How to Grow Cherry Blossom
Prunus serrulata
Ornamental cherries love full sun, fertile, well-drained soil, and a sheltered site. Plant while dormant and stake young trees. Blossom opens early and is frost-sensitive—avoid frost pockets. Keep watering consistent for the first 2–3 seasons and mulch the root zone annually. Prune lightly after flowering only to remove dead, crossing or congested shoots; avoid winter pruning of stone fruits. Choose a size/shape that fits your space (standard, multi-stem, weeping). Many have shallow roots—keep grass competition down to a minimum.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Mulch with compost in spring. Established trees rarely need additional feeding.
Watch For
- Silver leaf
- Bacterial canker
- Cherry blackfly
- Caterpillars
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun; sheltered from frost pockets
Full sun for the best blossom display and autumn colour. Tolerates light shade but flowering is reduced. Choose a sheltered site away from frost pockets.
Spacing
4-8m depending on variety; check mature spread
Wide-spreading trees like Prunus 'Kanzan' need 8m. Smaller weeping varieties need 4-5m. Always check the mature spread of your chosen cultivar.
Watering
Water young trees; mature trees rarely need it
Water regularly during the first two to three years to establish. Mature trees are generally self-sufficient but benefit from deep watering during prolonged drought.
Fertilizing
Compost mulch in spring; avoid high-nitrogen feeds
Mulch with compost in spring. Established trees rarely need additional feeding. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote soft growth susceptible to disease.
Pruning
Mid-summer pruning only; minimal cuts needed
Prune in mid-summer only (July to August) to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Minimal pruning is needed — just remove dead, crossing, or congested shoots.
Mulching
5-8cm mulch ring; protect trunk from mower damage
Apply 5-8cm of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it a few centimetres from the trunk. Use a mulch ring to prevent strimmer and mower damage to the bark.
Growing Tips
Plant at the right depth
Set the root flare level with the soil surface; don’t bury the trunk.
Mulch wide, not deep
Apply 5–8 cm organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it a few centimetres from the trunk.
Prune after petals fall
Make minimal cuts in late spring to limit disease entry and sap loss.
Protect from mower damage
Use a mulch ring to prevent strimmer nicks that can girdle young stems.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Cherry Blackfly
Identification: Dense clusters of shiny black aphids on shoot tips and leaf undersides; curled, distorted young leaves
- Squash colonies by hand early in the season
- Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds, lacewings, and blue tits
- Spray with a pyrethrin-based insecticide at first sign of infestation
Pest Winter Moth Caterpillars
Identification: Small green looper caterpillars inside flower buds and on young leaves; holes in foliage and damaged blossom
- Apply grease bands around the trunk from October to March to trap wingless female moths
- Encourage birds that feed on caterpillars
- Spray with a contact insecticide at bud burst if damage was severe the previous year
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on shoot tips; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on leaves below
- Blast off with a strong jet of water
- Encourage natural predators
- Use a systemic insecticide if infestations are persistent
Disease Silver Leaf Chondrostereum purpureum
Symptoms: Leaves develop a silvery sheen; affected branches die back; purple-brown fungal brackets appear on dead wood
Treatment: Prune out affected branches at least 15cm below the stained wood; sterilise tools between cuts
Prevention: Prune only in mid-summer (July-August) when spore levels are lowest; avoid winter pruning
Disease Bacterial Canker Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum
Symptoms: Sunken, oozing patches on bark; gummy amber resin; shothole damage on leaves; dieback of branches
Treatment: Prune out cankered branches in summer; no chemical cure available
Prevention: Prune only in summer; avoid damage to bark; choose resistant rootstocks where possible
Disease Blossom Wilt Monilinia laxa
Symptoms: Flower trusses wilt and turn brown but remain attached to the tree; brown, shrivelled leaves on affected spurs
Treatment: Prune out affected spurs promptly, cutting back to healthy wood
Prevention: Remove mummified fruit and dead flower trusses to reduce overwintering spores
