


For container-grown trees, first remove the rootball and set the tree on its side cut through any pot-bound or encircled roots with shears.For bareroot trees, place the rootstock on a small mound of soil in the center of the planting hole, and spread the roots down and away, trying not to bend the roots.When planting fan-trained trees, construct the necessary supports before planting.Trees on dwarf rootstock should be planted with the graft union several inches above the soil level, which will prevent the graft from growing its own roots and bypassing the rootstock. Trees on standard rootstock should be planted with the graft union a few inches below the soil level.

When selecting sweet cherries, make sure the different varieties will pollinate each other.Plant cherries in the late fall or early spring (when the ground is soft and has a higher moisture content).Space tart cherries 20 to 25 feet apart dwarfs, 8 to 10 feet apart. Space sweet cherries 35 to 40 feet apart dwarfs, 5 to 10 feet apart.

Ideally, cherry trees should get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.Ĭherry trees do best in deep, well-draining soil that has a pH of 6.0-7.0. Plant cherry trees in a sunny site with good air circulation avoid planting near larger trees or buildings that will shade the cherries. After flowering in a fruiting year, you’ll need to drape trees with wildlife-safe netting to protect the fruit from birds. Plant cherry trees in early spring or late fall (when the ground is soft and has a higher moisture content) in a sunny site with good air circulation and deep, well-drained soil. They grow in zones 4 to 6.Ĭherry trees generally start bearing fruit in their fourth year dwarf trees bear fruit a year earlier. One mature, standard-size tart or sweet cherry tree will produce 30 to 50 quarts of cherries each year a dwarf tree, about 10 to 15 quarts. Sour cherries are much smaller than sweet cherries and all varieties are self-fertile.
