Cherry blossom trees are a beautiful addition to any garden, patio, greenhouse or even indoor plant area. These stunning trees are available in a range of sizes and colours, with each bringing a simple, yet spectacularly charming quality with them wherever they’re placed or planted - patio or garden. However, growing cherry blossom trees isn’t as simple as planting the seeds and watching the magic happen.
This blog is our basic guide to on growing cherry blossom tree plants, giving insights into the best time to plant them, how to do so, how to check their leaves and so much more.
Late autumn to early spring are the best times to plant cherry blossom trees – when the tree is dormant. Trying to plant a cherry blossom tree in winter will leave you struggling against the soil, resulting in the plant either not thriving or fully struggling. Remember, your trees are only going to bloom for 1-2 weeks, with general foliage seen more year-round.
Planting a cherry blossom sapling or tree needs to be carefully considered in terms of location, with mindfulness for aspects like:
Plentiful sunlight is essential for getting the best blooms
Well-drained soil is essential as soggy roots will die
Heavy clay soils should be levelled by compost for a slightly acidic neutral soil pH
Cherry blossom trees planted in beds need space to grow and mature
Good air circulation will also help to prevent the catching/spread of disease
Being location-focused is a little less important if you buy the plant in an included pot.
Caring for your cherry blossom needs to include regular watering during the early stages of development. After establishing their roots they tend to get by with mostly supplemental watering during dryer and warmer spells. Again, make sure not to overwater or the roots might rot.
To make the most of your cherry blossoms – as in seeing beautiful, lush blooms – you can use balanced fertiliser, specially formulated for flowering trees. Heavy, overly regular fertilisation will promote excessive leaf growth, reducing flower coverage.
Cherry blossom trees only require minimal pruning, with special attention paid to:
Dead leaves/branches
Damaged sections
Crossing branches
Make sure to do it in late winter or early spring and avoid heavy pruning to prevent a loss of flowers.
With these guidelines, you should see your cherry blossoms thrive for 15-25 years at least, if not longer if you do a really good job. If you’re interested in starting your journey with cherry blossoms, make sure to go through a well-regarded gardening store. For more insights into gardening, check out our blog today.
