Their lavish blooms take our breath away. Where the lush, pink-colored flower clusters stretch towards the sky or elegantly lean towards the ground, the Japanese blossom cherry stages a paradisiacal flair. In order for the royal blossom overture to take place in your garden, a manageable care program is required. Unanswered questions about the Japanese ornamental cherry no longer remain in the room here.

The Japanese cherry tree offers a great sensory experience in spring

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant Japanese ornamental cherry correctly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. When is flowering time?
  6. How to properly cut Japanese ornamental cherries
  7. Water Japanese ornamental cherry
  8. Fertilize Japanese ornamental cherry properly
  9. hibernate
  10. Propagating Japanese ornamental cherry
  11. Is Japanese cherry tree poisonous?
  12. Beautiful varieties

    13. Plant Japanese ornamental cherry correctly

    The picturesque flower dream comes true when you plant the Japanese cherry in the warm autumn soil. Choose a sunny spot in fresh, moist, deep soil. The roots gain a foothold more easily if the soil is prepared as finely crumbly as possible and carefully cleaned of stones and weeds. Dig the planting pit deep enough so that the root ball is flush with the surface of the earth. Proceed with these steps:

    • Enrich the excavation with horse manure, bark humus or compost
    • Insert the potted root ball in the middle, open any ball cloth
    • Drive a support stick into the ground next to the tree without damaging the root ball
    • Fill the pit with the optimized substrate, tamp down and water

    A pruning promotes lush branching. To do this, shorten the young shoots by a third. Likewise, a light root cut gives the strands the motivation to spread vitally. No more than 2-3 cm of the tips should be cut off.
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    care tips

    The main cornerstones of proper care are the water and nutrient balance and prudent pruning. How to do it right:

    • Water Japanese cherry regularly as soon as the soil has dried 1-2 cm deep
    • Start the season with an organic or mineral-organic fertilizer in March/April
    • Slight topiary after flowering by trimming dead branches down to a few buds
    • Extensive pruning between November and February if necessary
    • Thoroughly thin out the crown every year in late winter

    The Japanese flowering cherry receives winter protection in the year of planting, since the robust winter hardiness has yet to develop.

    Which location is suitable?

    The Japanese ornamental cherry creates its picturesque flower dress in full to sunny locations. It should be at least 6 hours of sunshine a day for the carnation blossoms to develop in large numbers. A warm and sheltered location contributes to the paradisiacal appearance in spring. Choose a spot in deep, loose, sandy-loamy soil, fresh and moist to moderately dry.

    The right planting distance

    The selected ornamental cherry variety defines the planting distance in the garden. Majestic hybrids with a growth height of 8-10 m and a width of 6-8 m come into their own when the distance to the bed neighbor is 5-6 m. Smaller hybrids with hanging branches thrive particularly expansively, so that the expected growth width determines the planting distance.
    Only the columnar Japanese cherry can manage with a planting distance of 80-100 cm.

    When is flowering time?

    The pure species blooms from April to June. However, the magnificent hybrids do not have such staying power. The more lush the blooms, the shorter the flowering period. For premium varieties, the spring festival sometimes lasts from the end of April to mid-May.

    How to properly cut Japanese ornamental cherries

    A Japanese cherry blossom will remain willing for many years if you prune the tree like this:

    • From the 3rd year immediately after the flowering period, cut back all faded branches except for a few buds
    • Make each cut 2-3 mm above a sleeping eye (thickening under the bark)
    • Thin out the crown in late winter and cut off all dead wood on a string
    • Saw thick branches from below and only then cut off the twig completely from above

    Since mostly grafted hybrids of the Japanese ornamental cherry thrive in the hobby garden, wild shoots regularly sprout from the base. These are cut off immediately or torn off with a jerk, as they want to overgrow the noble variety.
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    Water Japanese ornamental cherry

    They attract the displeasure of the noble spring beauty when the soil gets too dry or too wet. The Japanese flowering cherry reacts angrily by dropping the flowers. Therefore, water moderately as soon as the surface has dried. Put the water directly on the root disc. After the blossom festival, continue to keep the soil constantly slightly moist.

    Fertilize Japanese ornamental cherry properly

    An organic initial fertilization in March/April awakens the spirits of a Japanese blossom cherry. Administer compost, horn shavings, (32.93€) granulated guano or bark humus. A regularly renewed mulch layer of leaves or grass clippings keeps the soil warm and moist for longer. At the same time, the organic material continuously releases valuable nutrients to the roots.

    hibernate

    The Japanese flowering cherry is frost-resistant down to - 20 degrees Celsius. An acceptable value for the Central European climate. Adult specimens therefore do not require any special precautions before winter. In the year of planting, we recommend protecting the young ornamental cherry with leaves and compost on the root disc. In addition, set up reed mats around the trunk and crown or add brushwood.

    Propagating Japanese ornamental cherry

    Since the Japanese flowering cherry is mostly a grafted hybrid, only experienced gardeners dare to propagate it themselves. The magnificent wood consists of a wild base that ensures health and a robust constitution. A sensitive scion was grafted onto it, the task of which is the lush abundance of flowers. Cuttings therefore lack the wild rootstock unless you are familiar with budding, copulation or grafting. If you want to try the experiment, proceed as follows:

    • In summer, cut 10-15 cm long top cuttings from non-flowering, semi-woody shoots
    • Defoliate the bottom half
    • Plant in small pots filled with poor soil

    After watering, put a transparent hood over each pot. In a semi-shady, sheltered location, a first shoot signals the successful course of rooting. The cover has done its job and can be removed. Maintain the cuttings until fall or next spring to plant in a sunny location.

    Is Japanese cherry tree poisonous?

    There are no health threats from a Japanese flowering cherry. In fact, both the cherries and the flowers and leaves are suitable for consumption. Since the flavor of ornamental cherries is light years away from the aroma of true sweet cherries and morello cherries, ideally leave the fruit on the tree for the birds to enjoy.

    Beautiful varieties

    • Kanzan: A showy variety with a lavish profusion of pink flowers on upright branches; 5-7 m high
    • Kiku-Shidare-Zakura: The branches of the hanging carnation cherry bend elegantly to the ground under the pink blossom burden; 3-5 m high
    • Amanogawa: Noble Japanese cherry in a slender column shape, covered with carnation blossoms in May and June; 3-4 m high
    • Hisakura: Powerful premium variety with semi-double, crimson pink flowers on curved branches from May; 10-12 m high
    • Thai Haku: White-flowering variety with a full 6 cm diameter and copper-red shoots; 6-8 m high

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