“C” is for Cherry Trees

Today’s A to Z Blogging Challenge post is supposed to be on the letter “C.” As spring is here and thoughts are focused on gardening, people visit their local nurseries where they are overwhelmed with choices of trees. Cherry trees are very popular for a number of reasons. They produce beautiful blossoms in the spring, wonderful fruit in the summer and put on a respectable fall color show. They are an all-around good choice whether for landscaping purposes or as part of a backyard orchard.




I have several cherry trees and I have learned the hard way that they are somewhat fragile. I started with a North Star pie cherry and a Stark Crimson sweet cherry, both from Stark Brothers Nurseries. Both trees arrived in good shape and seemed to take the transplant well. The following year I even saw a few blossoms on each tree but no cherries. That summer, the trunk of the tree was nicked, repeatedly, by my then 14 –year-old son as he mowed the lawn each week. I was unaware of this at the time.



The following year, the tree sent up a new shoot from the root. As the old trunk showed no signs of life, I let the new shoot grow. It has been two years and the new shoot has developed into a nice looking tree but has yet to flower or produce anything. I realized these trees are grafts and that what is probably now growing is more than likely not a cherry tree. Since I have 40 acres to play with, I’ve decided to let this renegade grow and see what it is.



The other tree had its bark peeled by a goat. Yes, a goat. We have goats. Apparently cherry tree bark s quite the delicacy to goats, again, not something I was aware of. This tree nearly died but the trunk had split into two branches up above where the goat began feasting and one of the branches has survived. It has been five years and this tree puts on few flowers but has never fruited. I may have to start over with some new trees in a safer location away from goats and teenage boys with lawnmowers.



If you check back through the archives, you can find information about growing cherry trees from seed and about pruning them. If you’re interested in how to fertilize cherry trees, check out this piece.



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