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Sweet cherry is a tasty and sweet berry, besides very useful, it strengthens the immune system and improves health. That is why there are trees in many private houses or summer cottages. Proper care of cherries will allow you to achieve regular fruiting. However, you should choose dense cuttings with a developed root system.
Features of caring for cherries after planting
When planting in a hole, fertilizer must be applied. Thanks to them, the sprout will receive the necessary minerals over the next three years. How to feed cherries at the time of planting:
- 60 g of potassium sulfate.
- 100 to 120 g superphosphate.
If the choice fell on nitrogen fertilizers, then they will have to be applied to the soil regularly. They tend to wash out quickly.
In the second year of growth, feeding of young cherries is made with 120 g of urea. It will need to be lowered to a depth of at least 10 cm. It is recommended to combine this process with watering. It is allowed to choose another scheme: May - June 20 g of urea are diluted in 10 liters of water. Fertilization is performed three times. It is also recommended to repeat it in the third year of tree growth.
Cherries require care
In the fourth year of life, fertilizing is performed in a furrow 25 cm deep. In the spring, it is advisable to add urea with watering to it. When autumn comes, 300 g of superphosphate in granules and 100 g of potassium sulfate are added to the ditch.
Additionally, liming will need to be performed once every five years. For this, a composition is made of fluff, chalk, ash and dolomite flour. The dose of the composition will need to be calculated individually. It directly depends on the degree of soil acidity. It is not allowed to combine liming with fertilization based on organic elements or nitrogen.
In the fifth year of development, the plant will need to fertilize the soil with an ammophos component. You will need to take 30 g of the substance and dilute it in 10 liters of water. After harvesting, 20 kg of humus is spread under the tree.
After planting, you need to fertilize
The first ripening takes place in the period from 4 to 6 years. After the start of the process, only 200 g of urea is introduced into the furrow. In September, you can also add 40 kg of compost or special humus.
The cherry dome needs skillful shaping. If the crown is not trimmed in the spring, it will stretch too much. It is advisable to prune before the start of the movement of juice and before warm weather.
The guide in the central part of the trunk should not be more than 15 cm higher than the skeleton. In the second year of development, it will be necessary to cut each branch by at least one third of its length. The shoots forming the central conductor must form a ring-shaped crown.
The harvest will be good if no more than three branches are left in the first tier. Otherwise, in the process of growth, the long shoots of the skeleton will need to be regularly shortened. On the second tier, no more than two guide branches should remain. With their help, it will be possible to complete the formation of the crown due to lateral shoots. The branch that does not participate in this should not be longer than 30 cm.
When the tree begins to bear fruit, you will need to bend its branches horizontally. For this, special spacers with weights are used. Thanks to this, it is possible to accelerate fruiting. The center guideline is not involved in this process. The structure can only be removed in the fall. During this period, it will be possible to fix the crown in the desired position.
How to care for cherries that produce fruit regularly
To do this, it is enough to perform sanitary pruning once a year. In the process, the branches directed towards the inside of the crown are eliminated. If the shoot is completely dry, it will need to be trimmed without hemp. The cut is carefully processed with garden pitch. A grafted tree requires special attention to the root system. The overgrowth is removed directly at the branch itself.
Cherry pruning
Some gardeners prefer to set aside time for pruning in the fall. However, not everyone thinks this approach is correct. A person gets the opportunity to eliminate old and weak shoots in advance. They can be pruned at least 30 cm. The procedure allows the tree to prepare for a dormant period.
In order for the tree to withstand the cold, potassium and phosphorus should be added to the soil in the fall. An adult tree will easily survive the cold, but a young shoot needs shelter. To create it, only natural materials should be used (for example, burlap). Around the roots, the soil is mulched with peat or compost.
Water-charged cherry watering is 5 buckets. With their help, it is possible to increase frost resistance several times. The tree will overwinter well and will not suffer from bad weather in the spring.
Not only frost, but also the sun can negatively affect the tree trunk. For protection, it is recommended to whitewash the trunk and main branches. The process is simple and will save you from negative consequences.
Top dressing of cherries in the spring in the Moscow region
If the tree grows in the suburbs, it can be fed with inorganic fertilizers, which include the following components:
- Phosphorus stimulates flower formation. If there is not enough of it in the soil, the leaves become gray.
- Magnesium promotes the formation of shoots and foliage. You cannot overdo it with the introduction of the substance into the soil, otherwise the leaves will turn brown.
- Fertilization with potassium increases the immunity of the shoot. It will not suffer from frost and other negative external influences.
- Nitrogen will help speed up the growth of the seedling. It is necessary for the formation of a good crown. Against the background of a lack of substance, the number of fat shoots will actively increase.
- Potassium helps the tree to bloom and form enough buds. In addition, the tree will form quite strong and powerful branches.
If the question arises of how to feed cherries in spring, attention should be paid to organic fertilizers. Among them, humus, slurry from manure, compost and solution from herbs are very popular. In the Moscow region, they also practice the cultivation of special crops under a tree. To increase the nitrogen content in the soil, it is recommended to plant legumes.
How to water cherries
Additionally, you should think about how to water cherries at different stages of life. The process is mandatory:
- In May. This month there is an active build-up of green mass on the crown.
- In June. It is necessary for the correct formation of fruits.
- In the autumn months. Proper watering allows the tree to overwinter without unnecessary damage to the root system.
Frequent watering can lead to decay, it is recommended to do it once a week. It is recommended to make an annular groove around the adult shoot.
Cherry care after fruiting
The tree begins to bloom immediately after coming out of dormancy.To get a good harvest, you will need to figure out how to fertilize cherries in the fall. During the winter, all trace elements will be able to penetrate deep into the soil. After harvest, it is also allowed to carry out treatment against pests. The process is considered completely safe, because the substance will not get on the fruit.
A good owner should perform the following manipulations in the fall:
- Processing of the soil adjacent to the trunk, applying top dressing.
- Regular moderate watering.
- The tree will not get sick if you regularly carry out preventive treatment against pests.
- Pruning branches to form a crown.
- Whitewashing the trunk.
When summer is over, weeds will need to be removed around the tree. Additionally, it is recommended to make the soil looser. The process can be combined with fertilization, then pour at least 15 liters of water. If the seedling is still young, 8 liters will be enough.
Tillage next to cherries
Most often, the reason for the lack of harvest lies in the insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in the soil. Fertilizer is applied in early autumn before the end of sap flow.
If the harvest has already been completed, it is recommended to pay attention to the following fertilizers:
- Humus, compost, and other organic matter options.
- Complex substances that help the plant to ripen properly.
- Flowering will be plentiful if phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied.
- Nitrogen and other substances.
Sweet cherries are attractive to a large number of parasites. From their negative effects, you will need to process the trunk and root system. Otherwise, next year, bugs eat not only the leaves, but also the fruits. Young cherries need regular checks on the condition of the bark and leaves. If, as a result, parasites were found, they need to get rid of them in time. Preventive treatment to increase the resistance of the shoot to the negative effects of external factors.
Treatment of a tree trunk from parasites
An early variety of wood needs special care:
- In the first year of life after the leaves fall, dry and damaged branches will need to be removed from the tree. In the places of the incision, a special garden pitch is applied.
- The area around the trunk is removed from the branches and carefully dug up.
- A generous sprinkling of urea is performed after the first significant drop in temperature. The remedy has proven to be effective against infections and parasites. That is why it is used quite often.
- If the plant is in the country, it will additionally need to be protected from frost. Preparing for winter is simple, but it will significantly increase the harvest next year. In autumn, the space around the trunk is filled with sawdust and straw. Thanks to this, frost will not be able to harm the root system. If there are obvious cuts after pruning the branches, they will need to be closed with garden pitch. It is advisable to cover the trunk with burlap. It will prevent rodents from damaging the bark.
Sweet cherry is an unpretentious tree. However, he will also need to pay due attention to get a good harvest. Otherwise, the owner risks being left without tasty and healthy berries for a whole year.
