How to plant cherry trees in autumn

It's hard to find anyone indifferent to the delicious taste of cherries. That's why many gardeners grow this tree in their summer cottages. Cherries are a very demanding crop. To ensure a bountiful harvest, it's important to select a high-quality seedling and adhere to the planting timing and guidelines. During the first year of life, the tree requires special attention and proper care.

Benefits of Fall Planting

Sweet cherries are typically grown in southern Russia because they are very sensitive to cold temperatures. However, successful breeding has resulted in frost-resistant varieties that ripen early. These cherries can also be successfully grown in more northern regions.

In the south of the country, it's preferable to plant this crop in the fall, when the trees shed their leaves. If planted in the spring, there's a high risk of damage to the immature tree due to intense heat in late March or April, insect infestations, and dry winds. If planted in the fall, the tree will root and grow strong before spring. In the southern part of the country, there are no significant frosts in winter.

In Siberia, Central Russia, and the Far East, cherry trees are planted in the spring. This allows the plant to strengthen and establish roots over the summer. During spring planting, the tree is regularly inspected, ensuring it receives adequate water and is protected from harmful insects and diseases.

To protect the seedlings from winter frost, they are covered with soil and snow. To prevent damage from the bright sun, sheets of plywood are placed on top.

Choosing a cherry tree seedling

Preserving varietal traits is impossible when growing this crop using stone fruit. Therefore, before planting cherries in the spring or fall, to ensure a high-quality harvest, pre-grown seedlings are purchased from specialized nurseries.

When choosing a suitable seedling, it is evaluated according to the following parameters:

1. Select specimens with a visible scion stem. These exhibit all the varietal characteristics.
2. The presence and condition of the main conductor are taken into account. Without one, the tree will branch excessively and stunt growth. If the conductor is broken, competitors will form, which negatively impacts the tree's health.
3. Preference is given to seedlings with well-developed roots longer than 15 cm. They should be firm, without signs of mechanical damage, and light cream in color when cut.
4. For better survival, select specimens aged 1-2 years.

Selecting a variety

For successful cultivation, purchase only regionalized varieties adapted to the local climate. This is especially important in northern regions with long, frosty winters. When choosing a variety, consider not only the maximum freezing temperature but also its resistance to temperature fluctuations and recurrent frosts.

Saplings with low winter hardiness will die if the temperature drops to -2 degrees Celsius after a short thaw. In this case, experienced gardeners recommend building a fire near the sapling to protect it, allowing the smoke to reach the tree.

The quality of the harvest is also affected by soil characteristics, the duration of sunlight, the number of sunny days, and constant cold winds. Ignoring these parameters leads to poor growth, low yields, or even death of the tree.

Recommended varieties depending on the region:

Preparing seedlings

To protect the roots of purchased seedlings from damage, wrap them in wet cloth and plastic wrap. Then, carefully inspect the plants again before planting and, if necessary, perform the following steps:

• trim off all frayed ends;
• shorten roots that are too long and do not fit into the planting hole so that they do not freeze in frost;
• Soak the root system in water for 2 hours to moisten it; if the roots are dry, soak for 10 hours.

If the seedling's branches have leaves, remove them. This will prevent the plant from dehydrating.

Selecting a site

For good growth, cherry trees require loamy or sandy loam soil, as it best meets the root system's needs for good aeration and water permeability. Fertilizers added to such soil are quickly distributed, penetrate the roots, and saturate the tree with essential minerals.

The groundwater level in the selected area must be at least 1.5 meters deep. Otherwise, stagnant moisture around the roots will cause rot. If the groundwater level doesn't meet these requirements, a drainage ditch is dug to collect excess moisture.

Cherry trees require ample sunlight. Therefore, a south-facing site, away from shade trees and buildings, is chosen.

Soil preparation

Two to three weeks before fall planting, the soil in the selected area is completely dug over, simultaneously adding a bucket of compost per square meter. If the soil in the selected area does not meet requirements, it is amended. To do this, over several years, add clay to sandy soil, and sand to clay soil. Additionally, add compost or enrich the soil with manure and dig.

To properly plant a cherry tree, dig a hole 80-100 cm wide on each side and 70 cm deep. The sides should be smooth, not tapering downwards. The seedling's root system should be freely positioned within the hole. A pole is driven into the bottom to serve as support for the tree.

Fill the prepared hole to a third of its depth with a soil mixture consisting of:

• 2 parts of fertile soil layer;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part humus;
• 50 g potassium sulfide;
• 100 g superphosphate.

Fill the hole 10 days before planting to allow the soil to settle slightly. Avoid using nitrogen fertilizers to avoid damaging the seedling's root system.

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Planting time

The best time to plant cherries—fall or spring—depends on climate conditions. In southern regions, mid-September or early October is best.

In all other climate zones, cherries are planted in the spring, but there are some nuances here too. In the northwest, Leningrad Oblast, and the Far East, they are planted in late April or May. For the Urals and Siberia, the appropriate time is May. In central Russia and landing in the Moscow region Cherries or cherries are harvested already at the end of March.

Planting cherry seedlings in open ground in autumn

Before planting, it's important to choose the right depth. Don't plant it too deeply. Position the root collar so it's 5 cm above the soil level. This way, once the soil settles, it will sink, and the depth will be optimal.

Step-by-step instructions on how to plant a cherry tree in the fall:

1. Pour 10 liters of water into the prepared hole.
2. Place the tree close to the support so that its neck is at the recommended level.
3. Sprinkle the roots with fertile soil.
4. The surface layer of soil is compacted.
5. The trunk is tied to a support with a soft rope, forming a loose figure-eight loop to keep the bark intact.
6. A small ditch is made along the edges of the hole for irrigation.
7. Water the plant with 20 liters of water. It's important to ensure the root collar remains at soil level.
8. The main trunk is immediately pruned to 80 cm, and the side branches are shortened to 50 cm. This promotes proper crown formation.

Features of care in the first year

Cherry trees planted in the fall are carefully prepared for the winter cold, since it is the change in weather that poses the greatest danger to them:

1. The trunk is wrapped in burlap. If the winter is warm enough, the tree is checked periodically to ensure it doesn't rot.
2. Snow is piled on the lower part of the tree to protect it from frost.
3. To make the protection more effective, spruce branches are attached over the burlap.
4. To prevent rodents from eating the tree bark, pesticides are placed around it.

Watering

Cherry trees are typically watered no more than three times during the growing season. The first time is in May, when the tree begins to develop foliage. The soil is watered again in June, before the fruit ripens. The final watering is done before winter to saturate the roots with moisture.

During watering, the soil is soaked to a depth of 40 cm. In autumn, watering is increased to a depth of 70-80 cm. If the summer is dry, the frequency of watering is increased. Watering is stopped in July to avoid compromising the plant's winter hardiness.

Fertilization

During the first year, cherry trees don't require any additional feeding, as all the necessary nutrients were added during planting. During the second year, the plant requires nitrogen. To achieve this, 120 grams of urea is added to the moist soil around the trunk.

In four-year-old plants, the root system extends beyond the tree's root circle. Therefore, fertilizer is applied beyond the furrow. In the spring, fertilizing the cherry tree with 200 g of urea, working the fertilizer into the moist soil, is sufficient. At the end of August, enrich the soil with 100 g of potassium sulfate and 400 g of superphosphate.

Gradually increase the size of the tree's trunk circle, adding 50 cm annually. Cherry trees do not tolerate weeds, so weeding is essential in the summer.

Formative crown pruning

To ensure a good harvest, the tree's crown is pruned annually. Branches are completely removed to a depth of 40 cm above ground level, and damaged areas are sealed with garden pitch.

In spring, before the sap begins to flow, the main trunk and upper branches are cut back by a third. Shoots growing inward are completely removed. Side branches at a 45-degree angle to the main branches are left. The rest are cut out. This pruning method allows good light to the tree, increases yield, and simplifies harvesting.

Additionally, sanitary pruning is performed in the fall. This involves removing broken, diseased, and insect-infested branches.

Diseases and possible problems

Cherries exhibit good resistance to most diseases, but there are a few exceptions. Like many stone fruit plants, cherries are susceptible to verticillium wilt.

The first sign of this fungal disease is damage to the bark. Later, the leaves turn yellow, buds fall off, and gum appears on the trunk. To treat the disease, the tree is treated with Polychrome or Topsin. Damaged bark is sealed with clay mixed with copper sulfate. Verticillium wilt is difficult to cure. The plant usually dies within a year.

If the spring is cold and rainy, there's a high risk of bacterial blight. This disease is completely incurable. Therefore, the tree is cut down and burned to avoid endangering neighboring plants.

Autumn cherry tree transplantation

Is it possible to transplant cherry trees in the fall? This is permitted if the initial planting site was poorly chosen: the plant doesn't receive enough light or the soil quality is unsuitable.

To ensure the tree successfully survives the autumn transplant to a new location and takes root well, follow these guidelines:

1. Cherry trees with a closed root system that are less than 6 years old may be replanted.
2. Preparatory work begins six months before transplantation.
3. A shallow trench is dug around the plant and the root system is pruned. The hole is filled with compost and watered frequently throughout the summer. These measures allow the plant to develop numerous small roots, which helps it establish itself more quickly in its new location.
4. When the leaves stop falling, the tree is transplanted to a new location.
5. In this case, the planting hole is made 1.5 times larger than the root ball.

Mistakes when growing

Cherry trees are very demanding when it comes to proper planting and care. Even the slightest mistake or neglect of necessary measures can impact the tree's health and yield.

The main mistakes made by inexperienced gardeners:

If you follow all the rules, growing cherries in your garden isn't difficult. Within just a few years of planting and careful care, the tree begins to bear fruit and delights with delicious, juicy berries.