Choosing Cherry Trees
Nothing beats the taste of home grown cherries. To grow your own, ensure you choose a fruiting cherry tree, not an ornamental one. Fruiting cherry trees can be split into those that produce sweet eating cherries and those that produce sour cooking cherries.
Stella Cherry tree (sweet eating)
Athos Cherry tree Tree (dwarf sweet eating)
Morello Cherry tree (sour cooking)
Planting Cherry Trees
Pot grown Cherry trees can be planted at any time of the year, whereas bare root Cherry trees can only be planted between November and March.
Cherry trees should be spaced according to their rootstock, for example a Colt (semi-vigorous) rootstock will require approx. 4 metres between trees, whereas a Gisela 5 (dwarf) rootstock will require approx. 3 metres between trees.
A stake and tie is recommended for all cherry trees except espalier and fan trained forms. See our guides on How to Plant Pot-Grown Trees and How to Plant Bare Root Trees to learn more.
Make sure to keep the planting area free of competing weeds, grass and other plants for the first couple of growing seasons after planting.
Pruning Cherry Trees
It is important to prune your cherry tree for the first few years after planting to ensure a healthy, natural shape with a strong branch structure. Your tree should have one central leader and several side shoots. Straight after planting, trim the main stem back to approximately 120cm and remove the lowest laterals, allowing at least 50cm of clear stem. Carry out this formative pruning in early spring.
To maintain a strong branch structure, you should aim to have 7 or 8 main branches which are well spaced, allowing enough light and air inside the canopy. Stone fruit trees, such as cherries should be pruned in summer when they are stronger and less susceptible to disease. During summer, prune any crossing, damaged or diseased branches, all the while, making sure the overall form of your tree is balanced and attractive.
