Cherry Tree - advice on where to plant plz!

[agrumpycow]

My hubby came home yesterday with a cherry tree he'd bought on impulse. It's about 4.5-5ft tall at the moment and the roots are in a plastic bag.

I want to plant it in my back garden but I can't decide on the actual site, so I though I'd ask you guys!

Here's a pic of my back garden taken last May, as you can see, it's not huge and I already have an apple tree. It's a south facing garden and is on two levels, which you can see.



Looking at the pic has anyone got any suggestions whereabouts I should plant it and when? And am I right in thinking it will eventually become about 10ft tall?

[big bill]

Hello Claire I`m not to sure on the planting of it but when I was stationed in Germany I had one in my back garden in the army quarters and it was in excess of 10feet tall more like 20+ feet it put me off cherry`s for life I ended up selling them to the local German shops.
Looking at the space in the garden that you have and that they say the roots of a tree grow out as high as the tree well I would watch as it seems the only place is nearer the house,hope nthis helps.

Cheers ...Bill

[Highland Damsel]

What kind of cherry is it, some get to six or eight ft and some to thirty, it depends on the species or cultivar/variety, is there a label? The label should tell you the size and position. Probably best not close to the house, i think cherry trees are high moisture demanding trees, not good for your foundations. If you wanted to keep it for a few years you could plant it in a large tub, this would restrict its growth in you're small garden, make sure to feed it after the first year with all purpose plantfeed or manure or something as there will be little nutrition left in the compost. It will get rootbound in the pot and need planting eventually but you can think about that then maybe.

[Tursiops2]

I agree with Highland Damsel, you need to determine which variety of cherry you have, there are many. The native cherries (Gean, prunus avium; Bird cherry, Prunus padus) both grow to 35'+, with a spread of 30'+. The ornamental "Japanese" cherries are shorter, I believe, around 20' - 25' height; and then there are the varieties grown specifically for fruit, about which I know nothing
T2

[buzfuz8149]

Hi Claire,

we have a Cherry in the garden it's about 10 years old, it was a 5 foot twig when I put it in and now is at 15 foot but I have kept it at that height, as to the cherries well I can honestly say there are loads on it every year but we have very few off it as the birds take them, especially the Blackbirds.

It is in a raised bed in sun all year (when it shines).

Carol.

[Seajay]

Hi Claire. What you need to know is the type of cherry - it could be a wild cherry, ornamental or sweet. If sweet the question is what rootstock has it been grown on? Tell me that and I'll tell you how big it will grow.
Are other cherries growing in your area?

Colin

[agrumpycow]

Hi thanks for all your replies.

As to the type, all the label says is 'Cherry Stella' if that's of any help.
The only other thing the label says is about planting it in full to partial sun.
Apart from that there's no more information.
Colin - I'm sure what you mean about rootstock

I suppose I just wanted to check that it was OK planting it about 8-10ft from the house or do you reckon a bit further?

[Seajay]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Hi thanks for all your replies.

As to the type, all the label says is 'Cherry Stella' if that's of any help.
The only other thing the label says is about planting it in full to partial sun.
Apart from that there's no more information.
Colin - I'm sure what you mean about rootstock

I suppose I just wanted to check that it was OK planting it about 8-10ft from the house or do you reckon a bit further?

Right Claire. Stella is a nice variety. Dark red and sweet and not difficult to grow.
It is self-fertile so will produce fruit without another nearby which is one of the reasons I was asking if there were any in the area.
The importance of the rootstock is that determines the vigour and ultimate size of the tree though there are other factors such as soil, climate, cultivation. I suspect but cannot be certain, that it will be on Colt rootstock and that should give you a tree of anywhere between 8 to 12 ft. Please remember Claire I am guessing as to the rootstock so it could end up much larger say 20ft.

As to where to plant. Full sun and further away from the house than you plan. Is the apple well established i.e. is it mature and at its full height? If so try and imagine a cherry tree nearby with it's leaf canopy and plant it near the apple giving each a little space between if you get what I mean.
Remember to prepare the hole well. Plenty of good stuff. Water well the first couple of years and stake it with a good oak stake.
As Carol says the birds love 'em! You could net part of the tree and let the birds have the rest?

Your husband made a good buy impulse or not. Can you imagine eating delicious, sweet, juicy cherries! Roll on Summer!

Colin

[agrumpycow]

Thanks for all that Colin.

I will plant it further back from the house and I'm certainly looking forward to the bird activity I hope it will encourage, as well as the fruit for me! If only all my husband's impulse buys were as good, sometime last year he arrived home with a dozen MP3 alarm clocks - his excuse was they'd make good gifts but they're still under the stairs

I presume you can prune the tree to reduce the height and size of the canopy if needed?

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Colin - I'm sure what you mean about rootstock

I suppose I just wanted to check that it was OK planting it about 8-10ft from the house or do you reckon a bit further?

Fruit Cherries are usually grafts of a good fruiting type, onto the rootstock of a disease resistant type - the variety of rootstock determines how vigorous the tree is.

You should work on the basis that this particular tree will reach at least 12ft in height and work on that as the minimum distance from any structural walls for planting position. You could consider growing it in a container so long as you can be sure of providing it with a good supply of water during the summer months.

CM