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Cherry Tree Prunus avium, & Prunus cerasus, Rose Family ( Rosaceae ), Commonly Known As: Cherry Tree. AKA: Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. The cherry is a fruit which comes from many plants of the rose family of the genus Prunus, it is considered a fleshy stone fruit. The ancient historical records concerning cherry trees are very vague. This vagueness probably is a result of the fragile nature and perishability of the cherry fruit. It is strongly suggested that the cherry tree originated in the various territories of Asia Minor near both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. However, less reliable suggestions are that the cherry trees were used in the Greek and Roman cultures. These suggestions are not scientific but come from literary historians. Most of the sweet cherries produced in the United States are grown in Washington, California, Oregon, and northern Michigan. Most of the sour (also called tart) cherries produced in the United States are grown in Michigan, followed in order of production by Utah, New York, and Washington. Traverse City, Michigan claims to be the "Cherry Capital of the World", hosting a National Cherry Festival, famous for making the world's largest cherry pie. Recall that baking cherries are tart cherries; the specific region of northern Michigan known all over the world, for tart cherry production is referred to as the "Traverse Bay" region. Traverse Bay Farms is one northern Michigan, co-operative-supported organization in this region that helps to market Michigan-grown cherry products across the globe. The cherry fruits sold in stores are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium. The name "cherry", often as the compound term "cherry tree", may also be applied to many other members of the genus Prunus, or to all members of the genus Prunus, as a collective term. The fruits of many of these other members of the genus Prunus, are not cherries, and they have other common names, which most people recognize; including plum, apricot, peach, and several other fruit. The name 'cherry' is also frequently used in reference to the cherry blossom. The true cherry fruits come from members of the subgenus Cerasus. Cerasus is distinguished from others, by having it's flowers in small corymbs of several flowers together (not singly, nor in racemes), and by having a smooth fruit with only a weak groove or none along one side. Cerasus is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere of the earth, with two species found in America, three found in Europe, and the rest are found in Asia. The majority of cherries that we eat are derived from either Prunus avium, the "wild cherry", (sometimes called the "sweet cherry"), or from Prunus cerasus, the "sour cherry". Sweet cherry trees are planted for the pleasure of eating the fruit. Sour cherry trees are grown for making pies, preserves and canning. The flowering types of cherry trees are generally planted for their display of their cherry blossems, in the springtime. We will concentrate our discussion upon the cherries that we eat. However, when choosing A Cherry Tree To Plant, you need to decide if you want one with flowers or fruits. Are you looking for a gorgeous piece of floral decoration to your landscaping, or do you want to be able to pick the cherries and use the tree for practical reasons? Here are two popular flowering types: 1. The "Weeping Cherry Tree" � This cherry tree is also commonly known as the "Higan" Cherry tree. The "Weeping Cherry Tree" produces white or pink floral blossoms on limbs that have a "weeping" quality to them. These trees are often planted by water, including ponds, pools and large fountains so the water can reflect their beauty. Here is a link to the Nature Hills Nursery; where you can order the 'Weeping Cherry Tree.' After you reach their page, simply click on Weeping Cherry Tree! If you click, there is no obligation to buy! Buy Weeping Cherry Trees. You will leave delange.org. 2. The "Yoshino Cherry Tree" � This species is a "Japanese" Cherry tree, that will produce white blossoms in the spring with a wonderful smell to them. In addition to its beautiful flowers, it has glossy dark leaves, and a wet looking bark that make it quite nice to look at, when it's not in bloom. At full maturity, The "Yoshino Cherry Tree" can grow up to 50 feet tall. Note: It is important when deciding what types of cherry trees you want to plant; that you take into consideration, how much room you are willing to allow it to grow on your property. Here are some notes about a few of the most popular eating types of cherries: Remember, there are two basic types of cherry trees that we eat, sweet cherries and sour cherries. The sweet cherry is the one you can eat right off of the tree. The sour cherry is commonly used in baking. The famous cherry pie is almost always made with a sour cherry. Eating cherry trees can grow to 30 feet tall or more, depending on the rootstock. The Rootstocks that are most commonly used are; Mahaleb, Colt, Mazzard, and GM61/1. Eating cherries ripen early and most are ready to eat by late spring. Generally speaking; sweet cherries need a pollinator and most sour cherries are self-fruitful and do not need a pollinator. IMPORTANT NOTE: Not all sweet cherries can act as a pollinator so be sure to check what other cherry tree is needed to produce fruit. Pruning every year is also suggested in order to maintain a healthy tree. Pruning should be done in the spring, before the new growth begins. Remove dead or unhealthy branches and limbs. Thin the areas of the tree where the growth is very bushy. Cherries have to be picked ripe. They do not ripen well after they have been picked. There are red, black, yellow and mottled cherries. Recent information about tart or sour cherries show that they have among the highest levels of disease fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits. They are delicious and healthy, a great combination. Here are some of the more common but popular types of Cherry Trees: The Bing Cherry, Prunus avium 'Bing': Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is one of the finest commercial sweet cherries and it is without a doubt, the most famous sweet cherry variety. The Bing Cherry produces a very large, delicious cherry that ranges in color from a deep garnet to almost black. The skin is smooth and glossy and the flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet. Bing cherries are great for out-of-hand eating but they are great for cooking as well. Bing Cherry Trees can produce up to 100 lbs of tasty cherries each year The Bing Cherry tree is pollinated by Black Tart, Van, Rainier and Lapins. Also Stella in cooler climates. Grows Best In Zones 5 - 9. The Black Tartarian Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is smaller than Bing cherries, but just as flavorful and matures to a black color with a firm semi-acid pulp. It has firm, sweet, dark purplish-black fruits, and inside the fruits thin skin, the flesh is sweet, juicy and extremely flavorful. The Black Tartarian Cherry is an early bearer, with an early-to-mid-season June harvest which makes it an excellent choice for the home orchard. It is very hardy and disease resistant, it is highly recommended for the South. The Black Tartarian Cherry is pollinated with any other sweet cherry. Plant Black Tartarian Cherry in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Plant Black Tartarian Cherry trees can be used as specimens and shade trees on larger properties. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 5 - 7. The Early Richmond Cherry, Prunus cerasus: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is the first sour cherry available in the late spring. The Early Richmond Cherry is a small, round, bright red cherry with a tart-acidy flavor. This bright red Early Richmond Cherry is excellent for cooking. All sour cherries are richly flavored and firm of flesh so that they don�t get mushy during cooking. You should use sour cherries for pies, cobblers, dessert sauces, preserves, and jams. Plant Early Richmond Cherry Trees in full sun and well-drained soil. Early Richmond Cherry Trees trees can be used as specimens and shade trees on larger properties. They can be held to any height with normal summer pruning. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 4 - 9. The English Morello Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is a fantastic late-ripening tart cherry for pie making and cooking, sometimes eaten fresh when fully ripe. The English Morello Cherry fruit is dark red to nearly black with dark juice that can be used when making liqueurs and brandies. The English Morello cherries are often found canned, packed in syrup, or dried, and in preserves. English Morello cherries also freezes well. The English Morello cherry tree can be kept at any height by proper summer pruning. Grows Best In Zones 4 - 9. The Lapins Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, cherry fruit is large and dark red in color with lighter red flesh. The fruit is firm and are considered one of the juiciest cherries that grow on trees. The Lapins Cherry fruit are great for snacking, and they are so large that one cherry is a mouthful! Their skin is bright in appearance and it is split resistant due to it flexible skin. The Lapins Cherry tree is an excellent pollinator and it is a heavy bearer. Grows Best In Zones 5 - 9. The Montmorency Cherry, Prunus cerasus 'Montmorency': Root Stock Standard: Mahaleb, is the most popular sour cherry in America and it is the classic pie cherry tree. Montmorency Cherries have proven over the years to be outstanding for cooking and pie-making. The Montmorency Cherry tree is extremely winter hardy and very heavy bearing. It ripens in early July. The Montmorency Cherry tree is self fertile and produces large sized, dark red, cherries with good flavor and quality. Their flesh is clear and yellow in color. The Montmorency Cherry trees can be kept to any height by summer pruning. Grows Best In Zones 4 - 9. The Rainier Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, produces sweet, large, yellow fruit with a red blush. The fruit is firm and the flesh is fine-textured and clear to light yellow. The Rainier Cherry has a creamy-yellow flesh, which gives the blush of the skin a sunny undertone. It is very sweet. It is a very productive tree that resists cracking, spurs and doubles. The Rainier tree requires pollination and is pollinated by the Van, Lambert, Lapins, Black Tartarian and Bing cherry trees. Rainier cherry trees can be held to any height by summer pruning. Grows Best In Zones 4 - 8. The Stella Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is self-fruitful - no pollenizer needed. It's fruit is a large, nearly black, richly flavored sweet cherry. The Stella Cherry is similar to its parent, Lambert. It is a great pollinator for the Bing cherry tree, except in mild winter climates. It's flesh is almost black in color. The Stella Cherry is an excellent cherry for fresh eating and is also resistant to cracking. Stella Cherry Trees bear fruit at a young age. Grows Best In Zones 5 - 9. The Sunburst Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is a cross between the Stella and the Van cherry. It's fruit is a large dark-skinned sweet cherry that is very similar to the Stella. It resists cracking and is ready for harvest in July about the same time as the Van cherry. The Sunburst cherry was introduced in 1983 from Summerland, British Columbia. It is a self-fruitful tree so it does not require a pollinizer. The cherry requires 800 chill hours Grows Best In Zones 4 - 9. The Sweetheart Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is a new self-fruitful cherry tree. It produces a fruit that remains firm when picked and eaten. The Sweetheart Cherry fruit resists cracking and ripens late. It is becoming a very popular cherry tree. Because the Sweetheart is self-pollinating, it can be used in a location where you would only want to plant one tree for very delightful cherry fruit. Sweetheart Cherries are one of the last cherries to ripen of the season! You can stretch out the cherry season with the Sweetheart cherry. The Sweetheart Cherry Tree can be held to any height by proper summer pruning and it should be pruined to prevent size issues. Grows Best In Zones 5 - 7. The Utah Giant Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is more flavorful, larger and more firm than a Bing or a Lambert. The Utah Giant Cherry fruit flesh color is dark red and very sweet. The Utah Giant is a great western disease-resistant variety that blooms with the Bing cherry. This cherry does not create doubles. A pollinator is required, and will be pollinated by any other sweet cherry variety. Grows Best In Zones 5 - 9. The Van Cherry, Prunus avium: Root Stock Standard: Mazzard, is very cold hardy. The Van Cherry resembles Bing cherries because the fruit is similar to Bing, though usually smaller. A pollinizer is required and the Van Cherry will pollinate with all of the popular sweet cherries. Van Cherry is one of the best pollinators for any other sweet cherry tree. The Van cherry tree is hardy, vigorous and a prolific bearer of high quality sweet cherries. Grows Best In Zones 4 - 9. The North Star Pie Cherry Tree, Prunus cerasus: Root Stock Standard: Mahaleb, is a natural, genetic, dwarf which grows just 6� - 10� tall. Its short height makes it a favored cultivar to the home gardener as it is easy to reach the fruit for harvesting. It's mouthwatering fruit ripens mid to late July. Dependably hardy, with huge harvests for pies and preserves. Excellent resistance to brown rot and leaf spot. Produces annually. Self-pollinating. Grows Best In Zones 4 - 8. North Star Cherry is a delightful tart cherry that was introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1950. It is extremely hardy and self-pollinating. One of the parents of North Star is English Morello (noted for its extremely dark fruit). This trait was passed on to North Star. Many other tart cherry cultivars have a dark skin but, the actual flesh of their fruit is light pink or yellow, which results in a poorly colored pie. The fruit of North Star is extremely dark throughout resulting in an excellent deep dark red pie when baked. North Star cherry ripens around July 4th in Yarnell, Arizona. A dwarf North Star Pie Cherry Tree is shown on the top of this page. Here are some links to the Nature Hills Nursery; where you can order some of their very high quality Cherry Trees. Some are flowering only. Others produce fruit. If you click, there is no obligation to buy! You will leave delange.org. NOTE: These are High Quality Speciality Trees. They are not usually found at the typical Big Box Stores! Okame Cherry - $159.90 Stunning Spring Color If you want a true �Oh my gosh, what is that and where did you get it?� tree for your landscape, then look no further than the Okame Cherry Tree. �Prunus Okame� is one of the earliest of the flowering cherries and it flowers from Canada to Central Florida. In late winter or early spring, well before other trees are waking up, the Okame Cherry puts on a gasp-worthy display of carmine-pink flowers. The flowers bud on the naked stems before the leaves show their faces. Since this tree doesn�t require a long chill period to set the blossoms, it is a good flowering tree for the hot and humid south. It blooms in January in Florida and later the further north you get. The trade-off of a low chill time, though, is that in the south you won�t get the truly amazing fall leaf show that you get in the north. The leaves turn bronze and orange and make the tree as showy in fall as the blossoms make it in the spring. Plant this tree where it can be seen � along an entry drive, in the planter bed in the center of your yard, outside your kitchen window. It grows pretty fast - 1 to 2 feet a year � until it reaches 20 feet tall and does great in any but the wettest soils. We all need a spotlight moment every now and then. The Okame Cherry tree will be that for your yard. Order yours now! * Early Spring Flowers* Specimen Tree* Fall color Weeping Cherry - $159.90 Fast-Growing Outstanding Ornamental The Weeping Cherry is a spectacular, fast-growing tree of uncommon beauty. It�s small enough to fit neatly into almost any spot in your yard. Wherever you put it though, it�s sure to become a focal point of attention for its unique, year-round characteristics. The Weeping Cherry grows 20-30 feet tall with a 20-25 foot spread. You�ll find that it�s very easy to grow and tolerant of many conditions other trees would balk at. It�s a popular ornamental, chosen for its manner of downward growth that seems to gently cascade toward the earth from a central crown. When spring arrives, you�ll be astonished by the Weeping Cherry�s stunning display as a multitude of flowers seem to spill forth. Your neighbors will share in the show as a deluge of delicate pink raindrops seem to flood over the tree�s sides in a downrush of exquisite natural beauty. When the flowers have passed, the 3-inch lance-shaped leaves will be revealed, displaying a glossy dark green color that will maintain their verdant intensity all summer long. The fall brings even more color as yellow to red leaves adorn your tree. Look closely to see tiny ebony fruit that is inconspicuous to you but the wildlife will definitely take notice of. As impressive as the spring, summer and fall appearance of your tree is, some people find they appreciate the winter most. During the winter months your tree will truly stand out amid the other landscape plantings as the bare branches trail to the ground seeming to weep at the loss of the summer sun. The Weeping Cherry is highly prized by homeowners, and it�s easy to see why. With such outstanding qualities, hardy temperament and fast-growing nature the Weeping Cherry is a must-have for any landscape. * Outstanding ornamental qualities* Fast-growing* Hardy Kwanzan Flowering Cherry - $159.90 Be the Envy of Your Neighborhood Every Spring! Also called a Japanese Flowering Cherry, the Kwanzan is easily one of the most dazzling and showiest of all cherry trees. Positively stunning in the spring, the blooms are a clear pink, double flower. Huge clusters of carnation-like blossoms will be the envy of the neighborhood for weeks. While it�s still in bloom your Kwanzan will start to grow young bronze leaves. As summer progresses the leaves will settle into a glossy light green with a slight red tinge making it a wonderful shade tree as well. In the fall your Kwanzan will again become the center of attention when its foliage transforms from a cool light green to a brilliant golden-orange.With twice as many blooms as other cherry trees it is the perfect choice as a dramatic focal point. Planted around a deck or patio the Kwanzan Cherry Tree will create an enchanting outdoor living space. One of the hardiest and easiest to grow flowering trees the Kwanzan grows rapidly to a height of 20-30 feet, loves full sun and will thrive in most any soil. The Kwanzan Cherry Tree is a stunning, high impact tree that would be a great addition to any yard. * Rapid grower* Hardy and adaptable* Stunning double blooms Nanking Cherry - $69.90 A Tart July Nanking Cherry, Prunus tomentosa, has showy white flowers with a pink blush which covers the plant in early spring. This is followed by tasty, edible, bright red fruit, great for jams and jelly. These 1/2 bright red fruit, which ripen in early July, are edible but a little tart for fresh eating. Nanking Cherry is a large wide spreading shrub and can be pruned as a small tree. It grows 8-10 feet in height and 10-15 feet wide. It is a great conservation plant with attractive soft green foliage. The plant works well as a mass planting or informal hedge. Nanking Cherry is native to northern China and is very cold hardy. It requires a good, well-drained soil. Nanking Cherry is fairly drought tolerant and does best in full sun. It needs cross pollination to produce fruit, so purchase 2 Nanking�s to be sure of pollination. The white flowers are fragrant and bloom in the spring! *Profusion of White Flowers in Spring *Abundant 1/2 Brilliant Red Fruit *Wide Shrub or Small Tree Autumn Blooming Cherry - $139.90 Enjoy lovely blooms twice a year! The Autumn Blooming Cherry (Prunis subhirtella �Autumnalis�) is a beautiful flowering cherry tree that blooms twice a year. This wonderful, fast growing variety is a perfect addition to you yard and has many unique qualities. A mid-sized tree, the Autumn Cherry tree is more heat resistant, cold hardy and longer living than most ornamental cherry trees. In the fall the Autumn Cherry will brighten your landscape with bronze to yellow gold leaves, sometimes tinged with red. It will also attract birds in your area with its small black berries. After it drops its leaves you will be delighted to see it flower. Quite a surprise as most everything else in your area is beginning to go dormant for the winter. Each time it flowers the Autumn Cherry�s blossoms go through a series of color changes. The buds are a dark pink which soon bloom a soft pink. As the flowers age they turn a brilliant snow white. The Autumn Cherry can flower on and off during the milder fall and winter months, but its real show happens in the spring. When the leaves emerge in the spring the Autumn Cherry will positively explode with clouds of semi double, soft pink flowers that slowly age to a show stopping pure white. Two seasons of flowering a year is very rare for small flowering trees, making the Autumn Cherry quite special. You will also be proud to share with friends and family that this tree is one of the varieties enjoyed at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC each year. Your new Autumn Cherry will mature to approximately 25 feet, prefers full sun to partial shade and will perform best in well drained soil. * Blooms multiple times a year* Pest and disease resistant* Requires no pruning or extra care Cherry Tree - Black Tartarian - $159.90 Ornamental Tree with Excellent Fruit The Black Tartarian Cherry tree is an ornamental tree that provides excellent fruit. You could plant several for their summer harvest or just one as a specimen tree in the front yard. Your Black Tartarian is an old variety of cherry tree that has remained a favorite among homeowners for its easy nature, superior fruit and high yields. If you�re looking for a pretty tree that will provide years of delicious fruit with little effort needed from you, then the Black Tartarian is for you. One of the best features of your Black Tartarian is its outstanding fruit. It all begins in the spring when your cherry tree will come alive with an abundance of white, fragrant flowers. The clusters of 5-peteled beauties veritably cover the branches with their pristine splendor. You�ll be amazed by the number of butterflies who have come to dance among the blossoms. It�s a beautiful experience of nature in all her glory! As the flowers fade, your Black Tartarian will fill out with shiny green leaves and begin to form the fruit that your tree is most prized for. By early to mid-summer, you�ll be able to pause under your tree�s canopy and reach up for a sun-warmed, sweet snack that will tantalize your taste buds. The Black Tartarian cherry is about 1-inch in size with a deeply purple hue. The flesh is dark red, dense and very juicy. The stone comes loose easily from the cherry, so even if you�re pitting the cherries for use in a culinary dish, you won�t have to work very hard. If you prefer to leave the cherries on the tree, don�t worry about having to rake up a mess. Your yard�s birds will certainly help you out by making sure not a single cherry goes to waste. Your Black Tartarian is hardy and disease resistant, tolerant of most conditions and easy for even the novice gardener to grow. Considering the stellar benefits of the Black Tartarian Cherry tree, you won�t want to miss having a few of these in your own yard. *Delicious Fruit*Spring Flowers*Wildlife Interest Cherry Tree - Rainier - $159.90 Lovely Ornamental with Outstanding Fruit Rainier Cherry Tree is a fruit-producing tree with outstanding yellow-cherries. Plant one in a prominent spot in your yard for its decorative appeal and the delight of watching your harvest develop. Often called the �white cherry� (for its creamy white flesh), Rainier is prized for its exceptionally sweet fruit. It is often considered the best yellow cherry by gardeners--sometimes even called the best of ALL cherry varieties. Rainier is a large cherry with a lively, yellow skin and delightful scarlet blush. It�s early bearing so you�ll already be enjoying your delicious harvest in mid-June when other garden treats are just getting started. Rainier tends to be a heavy bearer, so you�ll have plenty of its sweet and healthy cherries to cook with, freeze or just eat right off the tree. Rainier Cherry tree will grow to 35 feet in height, but can easily be kept smaller with a little pruning. People love its spring blooms almost as much as the cherries. The pink-tinted, white blossoms appear in profusion mid-spring, emitting a delicate fragrance that will be as enjoyable to you as to your yard�s pollinators. In autumn Rainier puts on another show when its foliage transitions to spicy tones of bronze and yellow. You�d expect Rainier to be a difficult tree to grow, but just the opposite. Even with all its spectacular qualities, Rainier is surprisingly low maintenance and easy to grow. Try one yourself this year and you�ll see how truly amazing Rainier Cherry trees are. * Superior fruit * Early harvest * Spring flowers * Cold tolerant * Wildlife interest * Adaptable to a variety NOTE: All cherry trees produce a hard wood that is used commercially and for its slow burning, aromatic firewood characteristics. Pruning Cherry Trees: Almost all varieties of cherry trees found in the garden will have to be pruned at sometime. Properly pruned trees produce better and more fruit. However, cherry trees do not need pruning as often as other fruit trees. Pruning and thinning of branches can be done while the tree is quite young. The cherry tree will grow so fast and produce so much foliage they stress themselves by their own unfettered growth. Cherry trees may be pruned in late summer or late winter for best results. Late summer pruning is recommended for the ease of spotting dead or diseased branches, and also assisting in prevention of a disease named silver leaf, that strikes with early winter pruning. When pruning, cut the selected branches at an angle about 1/8 of an inch above the bud. The angled cut will keep water and moisture from collecting that may harbor a disease. Cherry trees should be pruned so the tree branches will have a scaffold shape. There should be about 2 feet between the scaffolded branches so light can reach the lower leaves and fruit. NOTE: If you must prune in the spring; cherry trees should be done using a light hand after all danger of freezing temperatures has past. To allow for air movement through the tree and sunlight to penetrate all parts of the tree, these fruit trees are pruned to an open-center. Below are some tips to help with achieving this. �Cut out all broken, dead and diseased branches. �Trim, sparingly, crossed (these will appear �tangled�), weak and parallel branches. �Cut back to main branch (lateral branch) to promote strong growth of side branches. Sour cherry trees (Prunus cerasus) have a natural open habit. Sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium) tend to grow more upright and may need a bit more pruning than the sour ones. However, cherry trees need very little pruning when mature. Planting Cherry Trees: Decide on the site for your tree/s some months in advance of planting. Cherry Trees may be planted in late fall in some areas but spring is the optimal time. Planting cherry trees requires well-drained, fertile soil. Cherry trees are very susceptible to root rot, so the soil needs to be well-drained. Cherry trees require about eight hours of sunlight daily, so you should not plant them where they will grow in the shade of other trees. Soil pH should be between 6.2 and 6.8. Check and adjust accordingly. Dig a large hole in your prepared soil. 2 - 3 times as wide and deep as the width and depth of your roots. Fill the hole with water and let it completely soak into the soil before placing your tree into the hole. Gently spread out the roots of your tree, unless instructions state otherwise. Damaged roots may be trimmed back before setting the tree in the hole. Set the roots into the planting hole at the same height as the tree had been previously planted. Place the root ball at the bottom of your hole and fill in with soil and well-rotted animal manure if available. Press down firmly. Add some water if necessary. When all soil has been packed back in the hole, use your heel to firm the tree in place. If required, place a stake in the ground next to the tree. Afterwards, keep all weeds removed from the soil. The soil must be well-drained. Cherry trees can't tolerate wet roots. Check the site throughout a rainy spell: Dig a hole 2 or 3 feet deep. If the rainwater stays in the bottom of the hole for any length of time, the land isn't well-drained enough for growing cherry trees. But, new trees, especially fruiting trees, need lots of water until they are established. Later when they are producing fruit, during hot late spring or summer periods your cherry trees will still require water to 'swell' the cherries. Cherry Trees will need regular watering during their first year. It is important for root development that the tree receives plenty of water. After the first year, water as you would other fruit trees. Organic mulch around the base of tree will keep the soil from drying out and also help to control the growth of weeds under the tree. Fertilize your trees with an all purpose fertilizer high in nitrogen, much like many other fruit trees. Fertilizer should be spread in a circle around the tree being careful that it does not settle against trunk of tree. For more exact amounts of fertilizer cherry trees need, contact your local Government County Extension Office for a soil test. Climate, site and soil can change the fertilizer needs of cherry trees. Never apply more than one pound of nitrogen per tree in any given year. Any cherry tree care manual or website will tell you that sour cherry trees are self-pollinators. This means they do not require more than one tree to produce the fruit. However, if you plant the sweet variety, you will need at least a couple of trees for proper pollination. If you live in an area that gets frost make sure when growing cherry trees that you plant them in higher ground. You don�t want them planted in low lying areas because these areas get more frost during the early spring. Where we live in an Shrub Oak Forest with large boulders, we have planted the trees near the boulders which hold the heat and protect the trees from frost. The reason that you need to protect the trees from frost is that the blossoms of growing cherry trees are very susceptible to frost damage, which lowers your fruit crop. Sweet cherry trees bloom earlier than the sour variety, so they are also more susceptible to frost damage. Harvesting Cherries: Before you harvest your cherries, very soon after the flower bud begins to turn into fruit; NET YOUR CHERRY TREE! Birds love to eat all of your cherries! Birds love cherries. Because of this, you will either have to share your cherries with the birds, or cover your tree with netting to prevent the birds from getting at your crop. Netting is considered dangerous to birdlife and it's true, sometimes birds do get caught in nets. We just simply let the birds out if they get caught. Don't waste your money on the fake Owls and other such devices. Birds Aren't Stupid! They soon catch on! They can strip a tree in less than half an hour!! TASTE YOUR CHERRIES BEFORE PICKING!! Sour cherries are soft and juicy when they are ripe. Sweet cherries are ready when their color is uniform and they have a sweet flavor in a meaty fruit. Harvest your cherries with the stem attached. This helps retain their freshness after you pick them. They keep better and longer if the stem is still attached after harvest. Fresh cherries will store well for a number of days in a cool place. Cherries can be used in all sorts of things. You can make jams, can them, or just eat them plain. Sour cherries are the perfect pie cherry. Just keep in mind the cherry tree care that these trees need and you should end up with a great crop. While birds can completely strip your tree of cherries very quickly, other pests that may affect cherry trees are aphids, cherry maggots, and plum curculio. Two diseases which might be found on cherry trees are brown rot (Sclerotinia fructigena) and cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii or Coccomyces hiemalis). Both of these conditions thrive in areas of high humidity or can occur after a period of high rainfall. Fortunately, we don't have too much of a problem with these diseases in Arizona! Quick Notes: Type: Considered a fruit, technically it is a Drupe. Height: About 20 - 35 feet. Spread: About 15 - 25 feet wide. Flowers: Borne in corymbs of two to six together, each flower pendent on a 2�5 cm peduncle, 2.5�3.5 cm diameter, with five pure white petals, yellowish stamens, and a superior ovary; they are hermaphroditic. Blooming Time: Spring. Fruit: A drupe 1�2 cm in diameter (larger in some cultivated selections), bright red to dark purple when mature in mid summer, edible, variably sweet to somewhat astringent and bitter to eat fresh; it contains a single hard-shelled stone 8�12 mm long, 7�10 mm wide and 6�8 mm thick, grooved along the flattest edge; the seed (kernel) inside the stone is 6�8 mm long. Leaves: Blue-green to green in color, alternate, simple ovoid-acute, 7�14 cm long and 4�7 cm broad, glabrous matt or sub-shiny green above, variably finely downy beneath, with a serrated margin and an acuminate tip, with a green or reddish petiole 2�3.5 cm long bearing two to five small red glands. The tip of each serrated edge of the leaves also bear small red glands. Hardiness: USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) Elevation: 0 - 8,500 feet. Days of low temperature more important than elevation. Light: Full Sun to 8 Hour Sun. Soil pH requirements: 6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) Habitat: Mulched areas. Well-drained soil. Native: Asia Minor. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken July 01, 2011 In Yarnell, Arizona. Hardy Temp: 15 - 20�F. However sometimes, if frost at blooming time, there will be no fruit!