Dwarf Cherry Tree

A commercially viable fruit, the cherry tree is widely cultivated for its one seeded fleshy fruit, the red cherry. The cherry tree is also a popular ornamental tree with its beautiful blossoms. Dwarf cherry tree scientific name is Prunus, and this genus has over 60-70 species, natural and cultivated. Cherry health benefits are enormous and their flowers are equally nourishing to the mind, to enjoy a dwarf cherry in your own backyard, leaf through a few tips regarding its growth and care.

Dwarf Cherry Tree Information

With dwarf cherry varieties, one can have plenty of options to choose from; semi-dwarf to dwarf, flowering or non-flowering or fruiting or non-fruiting. Dwarf or semi dwarf species grow up to around 12 to 25 feet. Dwarf cherry varieties are being favored over the full sized ones for smaller gardens, and container gardening as well. As they are small, they take less space, require little effort to prune and harvest cherry fruits, plus they fruit earlier than their full sized counterparts. One needs to decide whether one wants the cherry for ornamental purpose or a yield, because although almost all cherry trees bear flowers and fruits, the cultivated ones emphasize only one feature. There are some bush like dwarf cherry plants too that look lovely as hedges.

Tree Planting
One of the flowering tree types, cherry trees are hard to root, probably the reason why most people prefer to pick them from plant nurseries. They are grown from cuttings. Take a healthy cutting in spring, from a new growth, about 8 to 10 inches long, and dip them in a rooting hormone solution, and push the cutting gently in a moistened sowing medium in a container. Keep the container in a shaded area and the soil moist until the cutting shoots new roots. Transplant in a nutrient amended soil, and build a berm around it to hold the water. Avoid soil that has heavy clay, cherries should be planted in well drained compost added soil. One can even try the grafting method.

Tree Care
Watering the dwarf cherry tree regularly is important in its first year to promote and establish roots. After which, water as per the climatic conditions. Mulching around tree is highly recommended to the keep the soil moist and the weeds in control. A good amount of fertilizer, high in nitrogen and potassium will ensure a good flower as well as fruit yield. However, never over fertilize, too much nitrogen will burn the tree. It would be best to invest in a soil pH tester.

A dwarf cherry is susceptible to get infected with brown rot and the leaf spot, both of which can be controlled with a systematic use of insecticides and germicides. Other pests such as aphids, maggots, etc. too can cause extensive damage to the tree. So always look for natural ways to get rid of them, a natural way will ensure that your fruits do not end up tasting like an insecticide. Birds are another problem, especially when the tree is fruiting. The dwarf variety has a major advantage over other cherry trees, because a small tree or bush can easily be netted.

Tree Pruning
The dwarf cherry tree has tender stems that are quite prone to breakage, hence a light prune before the onset of flowers and fruits will be quite helpful. Prune when the tree is young to establish a strong structure for it. Prune the branches to allow air and light circulation, this will help in reducing the incidence of infection to your tree. Prune all broken, dead, damaged and diseased branches.

Harvest the dwarf cherry tree in early spring, or enjoy its white or pink blooms with just little care. And don't forget to use those tarty sweet cherries in yummy desserts.