Growing Cherry Trees (Prunus): Bareroot Planting & Orchard Care

Cherry (Prunus) – Bareroot Fruit Trees for Home Orchards

Receiving & Storing Bareroot Trees

Keep roots from drying out. Check packing material—should be damp, not soggy. Plant within a week. If delayed, store in cool, dark place (garage/basement) with damp packing. For longer delays, heel in: dig shallow trench, fan roots, cover with soil, water, mulch with straw.

Siting & Spacing

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic (pH 6.5–6.8). Test soil via local extension service.
• Sun: Full day of direct sunshine.
• Spacing: Semi-dwarf trees 15–20+ feet apart; mature canopy 10–15 feet.

Planting

1. Soak roots 1 hour before planting.
2. Dig hole wide enough for roots without bending; in unimproved soil, make hole twice root-span diameter.
3. Scar hole sides/bottom to eliminate glazing. Form soil cone at center.
4. Set tree on cone, spread roots, cut broken roots. Graft union should be 2–3 inches above soil after backfilling.
5. Backfill halfway, water thoroughly, finish backfilling, tamp, build water ring, water again.
6. Mulch 4 inches deep (straw, salt hay, wood chips, sawdust), keep away from trunk. Add nitrogen if using wood chips/sawdust.

Watering & Fertilizing

• Critical: at least 1 inch (5–8 gallons) per week for new trees. Drip irrigation ideal; otherwise weekly deep soaking.
• Mulch to drip line for first few years to reduce competition.
• Fertilize in late winter/early spring (dormant) with complete fertilizer in subsequent years.

Pruning & Training

Proper pruning yields healthier, longer-lived, more productive trees. Highly recommend Stella Otto's The BackYard Orchardist for in-depth guidance.