How to Grow a Cherry Tree For Abundant Harvests of Fruit

Cherry trees are incredibly rewarding to grow and beautiful additions to any yard or orchard! When they flower, they’re blanketed in gorgeous white to soft pink blossoms.

Before you know it, those flowers turn into clusters of delicious, juicy cherries. Not only are cherry trees show-stopping in the spring, but they can produce unbelievable amounts of fruit.

In addition to fresh eating, cherries can be used for baking or making preserves, sauces, and drinks. From planting to fertilizing to watering, you can learn how to grow a cherry tree successfully at home!

Product Spotlight

On Kid Time

I got the opportunity to bring some of my family out to the farm, not just to show them around, but so that they could plant some fruit trees of their own. I’ll tell you, if we operated on kids’ time, at a kid’s pace, I think the world really would be a better place. They’ve got nothing to do, except dig in the dirt, pick weeds, and enjoy the moment. 

I hope you get out there and plant some trees of your own, and I really hope that you involve the kids in your life when you do! These guides are here to help by breaking down planting fruit trees step-by-step: how to plant an apple tree, how to plant a peach tree, and this guide on planting cherry trees.

Varieties of Cherries

There are so many wonderful varieties of cherries to choose from! In fact, we have 32 different varieties growing at Idlewild Orchard alone. But with all those options, choosing the right cherry tree comes down to understanding the two main types: sweet cherries and tart cherries.

• Sweet Cherries - These are the cherries most people enjoy eating fresh. They are generally sweeter and are also delicious in desserts and preserves.

• Tart Cherries - Sometimes called sour cherries, these varieties have a more acidic flavor and are excellent for baking, making pies, preserves, and other recipes.

Do Cherries Need Cross Pollination

One of the most common questions I get asked is whether you need more than one cherry tree to produce fruit. The answer depends on which type and variety you are growing.

Most tart cherry varieties are self-fertile, meaning they can produce fruit without another cherry tree nearby. Some sweet cherry varieties are also self-fertile, but many require a second compatible variety for cross pollination.

Check the pollination requirements of the specific variety you're purchasing. If you only have room for one tree, choose a self-fertile variety.

Growing Zones and Chill Hours

Always check both the plant hardiness rating and chill-hour requirements before purchasing cherry trees. Just because a tree can survive in your growing zone doesn't necessarily mean it will produce a good harvest.

Cherry trees need a period of cold weather to produce fruit optimally. This is measured in chill hours, or the number of hours spent at or below 40°F during the winter months.

Different cherry varieties have different chill-hour requirements. If you live somewhere with mild winters, like Southern California, you'll need to be especially careful when selecting a cherry tree. Without enough winter chill, your tree may grow healthy foliage but produce very few cherries, if any!

You also have plant hardiness to consider. Plant hardiness refers to the lowest temperature a perennial plant can experience during winter and still survive. Cherry trees are generally grown in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, although some exceptionally cold-hardy varieties can survive in zone 3.

When to Plant Cherry Trees

Cherry trees are among the first fruit trees to bloom in spring, so getting them planted before they wake up from dormancy is important! Planting while the tree is dormant allows it to focus on establishing healthy roots before it has to support a flush of blossoms, leaves, and new growth.

I prefer planting cherry trees in late fall or early winter, before the ground freezes. The cooler temperatures and increased moisture help settle the soil around the roots, eliminating air pockets and encouraging root development. Don’t worry if fall planting isn’t an option. Planting in early spring, while the trees are still dormant, is still a great time.

How to Plant a Cherry Tree Step-By-Step

Just like they say in real estate: location, location, location! The first step to successfully growing cherries is choosing the right planting location. 

Cherry trees need plenty of sunlight; I would recommend at least 8 hours of full sun daily. While the nursery tag might say the tree only needs 6 hours, I find that 6 hours is really pushing it if you want to get adequate fruit production. It's even better to plant cherry trees where they will get 10 to 12 hours of sun.

Soil composition is also crucial to growing a cherry tree. They are especially sensitive to poorly draining and waterlogged soil. 

Ideally, cherry trees should be planted in fertile loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH, but they can thrive in other soil types if drainage is adequate. If you have heavy clay soil, you’ll want to learn how to improve soil drainage before planting.

1. Plant Spacing - Consider the mature size of your cherry trees before planting! Use my Guide to Fruit Tree Spacing to give your tree(s) the room to grow that they need.

2. Dig a Hole - Dig a hole deep enough for the root ball and approximately two times wider to accommodate the roots at the correct planting height. Pro-Tip: Before you dig, consider potential underground hazards! Check for buried utilities and irrigation lines before digging.
   

3. Position the Sapling - Place the tree in the center of the hole so the root flare sits at or slightly above the surrounding soil level. If the tree is grafted, keep the graft union above the soil. Position the tree so that the majority of the growth is balanced and straight.

4. Backfill the Hole With Soil - Use primarily native soil to backfill around the roots, gently tamping it to eliminate large air pockets. The soil should taper down slightly from the tree trunk to the original soil level.

5. Water - Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

6. Mulch Around the Tree - Apply a 4 to 6-inch layer of organic mulch around each cherry tree to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and improve soil quality. You really don’t want weeds growing within the tree’s drip line (which is the area beneath the outermost branches of the canopy), where they will compete with your cherry tree for precious water and nutrients. Pro-Tip: Keep the mulch several inches away from the trunk. Piling mulch against the trunk will retain moisture that can cause mold, mildew, rot, and invite critters, like mice and insects.

7. Remove Nursery Tape - Remove any nursery tape or tags that could eventually girdle the trunk as the tree grows.

8. Place a Tree Guard Around the Trunk - Using tree guards will protect young cherry trees from rabbits, voles, and other animals that may damage the bark, especially during winter.

How to Grow a Cherry Tree

Once your cherry tree is planted, these important things will encourage healthy growth. 

• Watering - Newly planted trees need consistent moisture to establish their root system and avoid stress. Give your tree 3 to 10 gallons of water each week (depending on the size of the sapling, the season, and the climate) for the first year unless weather conditions provide adequate moisture. Pro-Tip: Check the moisture several inches below the soil surface before watering to know when they need more water. Cherry trees need consistent moisture, but they don't like sitting in waterlogged soil!

• Fertilizing - I do not recommend fertilizing fruit trees at the time of planting or for three months afterwards. Once the tree is established, applying a balanced fertilizer twice a year is essential to maintaining healthy growth. When that time comes, read Fertilization of Fruit Trees & Perennials to get it right.

• Pruning - Pruning is essential to increase sunlight penetration and air circulation, to prevent disease, and to increase fruit yields. But many people skip pruning out of fear of getting it wrong. To help you prune confidently, we’ve dedicated an entire guide to how to prune cherry trees specifically! You can also learn various pruning techniques in my Complete Guide to Pruning Fruit Trees.

• Pest & Disease Control - Cherry trees can experience problems with aphids, cherry fruit flies, spider mites, brown rot, cherry leaf spot, and more. I use dormant oil spray as the main preventative method in our orchard. It can help reduce certain overwintering insect pests and fungal diseases.