How to care for cherries in the fall: preparing cherries for winter

Cherries

Cherry tree care requires fertilizing, watering, and pruning. A gardener must not be late. If they start work late, they lose a significant portion of the harvest. The first rule is to cover the fruit tree anywhere where the average temperature remains at or below 25°C for two or more days. The second rule is to cover the cherry tree in a greenhouse or outdoors, strictly following the proper procedures. Leave a small space between the layers of covering material to ensure air circulation. The third rule is that there is no set time for beginning preparatory work in the fall.

Why do you need shelter?

Fruit trees react immediately to the physical and chemical composition of the soil, moisture levels, and temperature. Any sudden change negatively impacts the vegetative potential of the trees. It doesn't matter whether a cherry tree overwinters in the Central Urals or in the Moscow region. Any shock, even if brief, reduces the likelihood of a good harvest. It's not just how the gardener plans to plant the trees that matters, but also their care practices.

Insulated shelters are applied to greenhouses and open ground two weeks before the onset of cold weather. This is necessary to minimize the risk. Even after successful completion of the preparatory work, the gardener will not rest on his laurels. Even after covering the tree, problems may still arise. The plant's condition should be checked every 5-6 days.

Methods of protecting seedlings

There are several methods for covering garden cherries for the winter. Young fruit trees are bent to the ground and then covered with plastic. If plastic is not available, a roofing felt frame is used. Avoid using excessive force. If the tree is over 2.5 years old, the preparatory treatment for the cherry tree in the garden in the fall is different. The gardener ties together 2-3 strong shoots and then wraps them in plastic. In regions with capricious weather, additional insulation is required for the seedlings. A plastic frame is installed on top.

The next season begins immediately after the plant reaches 6-7 years of age. To cover your garden cherry tree for the winter yourself, follow these steps:

dig up the tree trunk area;
Caring for a planted cherry tree in the Moscow region involves insulating only the trunk and root system;
the tree trunk area is insulated with mulch and snow;
If the snow cover is insignificant or where the temperature drops below -15 °C, the seedlings need to be covered with an additional plastic frame

Regardless of the chosen type of cover, an air gap is created between the cherry tree and the protective layer. This is necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature. To properly cover a planted cherry tree for the winter, a gardener monitors the condition of the branches. As soon as they dry out or weaken, they are immediately removed. As the temperature drops, additional mulch is added near the trunk circle. Sawdust or straw are suitable in any region. The next consideration is the best winter cover for garden cherries: agrofibre or burlap. This material prevents condensation. The covering material is secured near the base with soil.

Stages of pruning

They are conducting autumn pruning of garden cherry trees Depending on the age of the fruit tree, pruning is performed in early spring on young trees. Planned treatments are carried out until the tree emerges from dormancy. Weak and dead branches are removed. Pests overwinter within these branches, so it's advisable to remove potential sources of problems from young cherry trees. In southern regions, such as Kuban, this procedure is performed in the fall. The signal to prune the fruit tree will be when 100% of the foliage has fallen. Other recommendations:

branches that grow in the wrong direction must be removed;
cherry trees grow poorly if many shoots interfere with each other, so they are also removed;
pruning is carried out with a sterile instrument;
In spring or autumn, the tree is pruned using a sharp garden tool;
work begins 2-3 weeks before the expected date of cold weather
If cracks appear on the bark after pruning is completed, the affected areas must be removed.

Do not remove damaged bark around the circumference, otherwise the tree will not survive the winter. After this, treat the wounds on mature or young cherry trees with garden pitch. The steps for preparing a planted cherry tree for winter vary depending on the tree's age.

A mature or fruit-bearing tree	Old tree
The active vegetative stage occurs at 5-6 years of age.	Botanists classify trees that are more than 10 years old as “old” trees.
Pruning is carried out to maintain the height of the shoot at a height of 3 to 3.5 m.	From the 9th year onwards, the yield decreases.
The average and most comfortable height of the highest shoot of a tree does not exceed 4 m.	An older tree should be prepared by removing dried or broken branches.
Once the tree reaches 5 years of age, active pruning is stopped.	Semi-skeletal shoots are shortened by 1/3 of their length.
Remove only diseased or dry branches that “draw” nutrients to themselves	Skeletal shoots are reduced by ¼ of their length.
The photo shows an example of how pruning of fruit-bearing trees is carried out to prevent the formation of an excessively dense crown.	In the northern regions, branches that are too large inside the crown are removed.
Autumn care for cherries begins 2 weeks before frost, and after the New Year – in March or February, depending on the climate in the region.	Shortening strong branches accelerates fruit formation
Proper care activates tree rejuvenation	Caring for old trees will bring the first results after 2-3 months.

Preparing a pruned cherry tree for winter is easy, step by step. All wounds are immediately treated with an antiseptic garden putty. Apply the mixture with a thick, soft brush. The second step is to clean the area around the tree trunk. Remove weeds and debris. The third step is to ensure winter won't harm the seedlings if the soil around the tree is dug to a depth of 15-17 cm. The fourth step is to perform a fall moisture booster watering. Depending on the region, this is done 1.5 weeks before the onset of cold weather. Use 10 liters of water mixed with a 5% urea solution per 1 m² of plot. Use 250 g of the solution per bucket.

Adding nutrients

Fruit trees over two years old require fertilizing before winter sets in. For example, in Krasnoyarsk and Siberia, fertilizing begins in early or mid-September. The nutrients included in the fertilizer require time for the fruit tree's root system to digest them.

Fertilizer	Dosage	Note
Humus	15 kg per 1 adult plant	It is applied only when the plant is more than 3 years old.
Superphosphate	Up to 100 g per one fruit tree under 2 years old, up to 450 g per one tree over 4 years old	Fertilizers are applied in dry and windless weather, after watering the plant.
Potassium salt	100 g per fruit tree up to 2.5 years old and up to 200 g for a tree older than 4 years	Preparation for winter in the middle zone is carried out in September – October

Cherry tree care is carried out in early autumn without fertilizing. Applying nutrients during this time period stimulates rapid shoot growth. Once winter arrives in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, the tree will die.

Note!

Botanists recommend applying nutrients 3-4 weeks before the onset of cold weather. In southern regions, this period falls in October, and in northern regions, in early September.

Standardized watering

Once the fertilizer has been applied, the seedlings are watered at the roots. Ten buckets of water are needed per mature tree. The water is pre-filtered and allowed to settle. Cherry trees are cared for independently using warm water. The recommended temperature range is 17-19°C. The second rule is to water each tree so that the soil is moistened to a depth of 1.4-1.6 m. The third rule is to check the soil moisture level at the specified depth before each application of water.

In the Central Urals, watering and fertilizing are combined. Nutrients are selected based on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The next step is to dilute the fertilizer in 10 liters of water, following the recommendations on the fertilizer packaging. The final step is to water in a circle, 55-60 cm from the trunk. Immediately after applying moisture, the soil is mulched. A video of the process is shown below. Along with watering, treatments are carried out against diseases and pests.

Certain varieties of this sweet berry boast strong immunity to most pests and diseases, but preventative measures should not be ignored. In mid-autumn, spray each plant with a 5% urea solution. This mixture has a broad spectrum of activity.

Note!

Treatment is carried out once every two weeks. The solution is purchased ready-made, otherwise it is not always possible to maintain the 3:1 ratio (water:urea). The area around the tree trunk should be treated.

About difficulties and problems

You need to treat the plant yourself regularly, otherwise problems are inevitable. Negative consequences are impossible to predict. Everything depends on the duration of the frost. If you are confident the snow will not melt within a week, then cover the area around the tree trunk with a white blanket. Botanists make a caveat here. For example, if snow is spread near each tree, the temperature may drop sharply within 2-3 days.

In such a situation, snow is quickly removed. Covering a fruiting or old tree with protective garden film is done. There is no need to cover the tree for the winter if it is a winter-hardy variety. This rule applies to all growing regions without exception. Gardeners should only whitewash the bark two weeks before the onset of cold weather. All of the above applies only to trees older than three years. Young cherry tree seedlings are always covered.

Although gardening techniques seem simple, even professionals can't always avoid problems. One of the most common is excessive sap loss. This is often caused by pruning too early, for example, before the leaves have fallen. Other problems include:

active growth of green unproductive shoots that take up a lot of nutrients - the cause is sought in the excessive application of nitrogen-based fertilizers;
Rodents and insects damage the integrity of the bark - those who refuse to whitewash the trunk will face a similar problem;
activity of pathogenic flora in spring – incorrect pruning in autumn;
small size of berries - the gardener did not follow the rules for caring for cherries in the fall and preparing them for winter.

Fruit trees react immediately to external factors. It's important not to skip days when loosening the soil, applying fertilizer, or pruning. Lack of punctuality will negatively impact the plant's immune system and the future harvest.

Gardeners' Tips

Botanists remind us that there are no universal recommendations for caring for fruit trees. All advice is adjusted based on climate. Nevertheless, several general tips have been identified. The first rule is to avoid pruning stone fruit trees directly to the ring. This is because the rate of bark regeneration depends on the cherry variety and the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. Unfortunately, the wound does not always heal by the time the tree goes dormant. The second rule is to avoid removing living branches in the fall. The only caveat is that this procedure is performed if the gardener fails to perform formative pruning in the spring. A mandatory requirement is that the fruit tree is planted in a southern region with a consistently warm climate. The third rule is to remove all sharp forks from the branches. Other recommendations:

Do all trees require winter protection? No. If the tree is over 5-7 years old, this procedure is not necessary. The only caveat is that winterizing young cherry trees involves mulching. The area around the tree trunk is covered with straw. This practice is especially important in regions with capricious weather.
What material is used to protect young plants? Adult plants and seedlings of garden cherries are covered with burlap or agrofibre.

Is it necessary to additionally cover the bark? Yes. Otherwise, it will become a prey for rodents. First, the trunk should be whitewashed with lime. Apply two layers. Additionally, the trunk should be carefully wrapped in fine-mesh netting. An important caveat: as a preventative measure, do not spray the trunk for 4-5 days after applying the whitewash. Botanists recommend leaving a 5-7 cm wide unpainted strip on the trunk. This is sufficient for quickly monitoring the plant's health.

Note!

As soon as signs of insect activity or disease symptoms are noticed, treatment is carried out immediately. Even a novice can step-by-step prepare planted cherries for winter in the Moscow region. The main thing is to follow a few guidelines.

Fruit crops cannot be effectively treated for pests if fertilization in the fall was insufficient. The amount of nutrients applied depends on the variety, climate, and soil chemistry. For example, in acidic soil, you can insulate cherry trees for the winter, as in the video below. Mulch and a removable plastic frame are used as a base. This frame should only be installed during severe frosts. If the soil is too acidic, spraying urea on the plants is not recommended. It's better to use biologically active substances. These can be purchased at a gardening supply store.