When to fertilize a Cherry Tree? (flowers, growing, fertilizer, Fruit Trees)

[woodworkingmenace]

Ok, I have a Cherry Tree and there is a place to get fertilizer in my town, (I believe its still operating at this time).

My Cherry Tree has stopped growing, though its about sixteen feet high, its supposed to go to at least twenty five feet or more.

Now, when I worked at the local sewage treatment plant, I used to bring sludge home and pour it around the tree and I saw new growth every year, (of course, it was young then, now its fourteen years old)...

Do I still fertilize the tree? If so, how many times a year should I fertilize it, and how much should I buy?

(I dont work at the sewage plant anymore, so I cant get anymore sludge...which is a shame, as it did so well with it, so I will have to buy a commercial grade fertilizer, instead.)

I know there is a certain amount of this and that, potassium and nitrogen and potash is it? I dont really know what amounts or how much to give it, with out killing it if it needs it anymore. We have seen a lot less cherries on it, but a huge boquet of flowers on the tree, (we figure this was due to the bee population being down, and not getting enough pollination, but, that cant be helped I reckon).

Any ideas?

May the LORD Bless each of you.

I wish you well...

Jesse

[Gerania]

Is this a fruit bearing tree or ornamental? What is the name, variety?

[SCGranny]

I kind of cheat on my fruit trees sometimes and pound in Job's BIG fruit tree spikes around the drip line in early spring. But I REALLY like to use Garden's Alive! fruit tree fertilizer... a little before bloom time or at fruit-set time and POW!

[woodworkingmenace]

Gerania, Its a fruit bearing tree. It has semi-sweet cherries on it, big red ones.

Thanks SCGranny, I will have to find out who carries that brand Garden's Alive. I will check lowes and other places. I think the farm store that we have around here, actually makes up the fertilizer or blends it together and I wanted to know what months, or how many times you fertilize a tree and how much, but, thats a great start, and I thank you!

May the LORD Bless each of you.

I wish you well...

Jesse

[Gerania]

"Like mankind, trees do most of their growing in height in their earlier years. Then, having reached the average height of the people in their families, they "begin to put on flesh"..."

Life Cycle of a Tree

That's not a tree care page, but maybe that's what's happening to your cherry. I asked about the variety of tree wondering its expectations. Should it reach possibly up to 25 feet or perhaps 15-25 feet. If the tree looks healthy and is producing fruit, I wouldn't be too concerned about height.

You should fertilize right about now, early spring. Garden's Alive! makes a great product but you have to order it online (I think). Look for a granular or pelletized slow release fruit tree fertilizer. Make sure that it doesn't have too much nitrogen, N-p-k, the first letter, number, like 5-10-10. Fruit trees don't need a lot and cherry trees especially don't like it.

You apply it by scattering on the ground in a band around the tree at the drip line. The amount that you apply is usually based on the thickness of the trunk. There should be directions on the bag. Fertilize at the recommended rate and remember, more is not better.

[woodworkingmenace]

Thanks Gerania...

That live cycle of a tree was a strange read...

I will look for that product at Lowes first, as they have a huge assortment of thing for plants at thier Steubenville Store, and I might find what I need, or, if need be, I will order it online.

Your help and all those who participated was greatly appreciated.

May the LORD Bless each of you.

I wish you well...

Jesse

[woodworkingmenace]

OK, another problem with my Cherry Tree...

The thing is dying now. Its 19 years old in a few months, and its got 'green flecks' all over the trunk.
Dont know if its a mold or what, but it started at the bottom and worked its way up the trunk.

Now, limbs are bare. Some limbs never grew leaves, and are breaking off. A nit-wit Tree Cutter said I had 'Dutch Elm Disease'... yeaaaa right! Dutch Elm on a Cherry Tree LOL.. I lost the guys number so I dont have to deal with him when I get someone to cut the tree down.

First, I thought maybe my Brother in law cut the limbs wrong. He didnt cut them close to the tree, so that they could 'mend' themselves, no, he cuts the limbs off, willy-nilly and leaves huge sections sticking out this way or that, so that fungus can get into the tree. (Saw that one on HGTV about cutting it close to the trunk in order to prevent that).

Couldnt tell my Wife that, cause she flat out wouldnt believe a word I said, cause I always tell her that her Brother is doing this or that the wrong way ..(he always is, and I have to have it fixed my way afterwards and proved right, but, she still supports him in all he does, cause I cant do it anymore).

So, what are the green fleks, and are they the cause of the tree dying?

There is a hole at the bottom of the tree that my Wife can stick her finger in, clear to the palm! Not good I would assume.

They told me this Cherry Tree was a 'full tree', (0nly grew about 15 or so feet high), and I dont think it was a hybrid, but, not sure about that one, it was a Bing Cherry Tree.

Is the life expectancy of a Cherry Tree that short?

It did put out two 'shoots' from the bottom and I took them off, during the years, maybe my mistake on that one.

OK, need some answers...thanks in advanced.

I wish you well...

Jesse

[lonnae]

Some of the info related to cherry trees can be very confusing. Most reviews written state that you should only use nitrogen to fertilize cherry trees. However, based on my own experience, I use a mixture of
5 cups of screened compost, 2 cups of a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, and 1 cup of peat moss.Too much nitrogen will result in no fruit and too many leaves. The tree should be kept well mulched, with the mulch kept at least 1 foot from the trunk. This mixture should be applied every spring and again in the month of November.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Your tree might have canker (the hole in teh trunk). Google for pictures. I don't have any idea what "green spots" means. Can you post photos? Google "scale" and see if that is what your spots look like.

Your original question: you fertilize fruit trees after the very last danger of frost is past. You don't want to encourage tender new growth and then get the new growth frozen.

Size of cherry trees is controlled by root stock, but it also depends upon growing conditions. Sometimes they get big sometimes they don't. Soil, weather, sun, they all affect final size.

[leastprime]

If this is a fruit bearing tree (grafted), then the current height is probably it. A "seedling" tree may grow taller, highly variable.

Fertilize in late winter (late Feb-March), depending on expected rainfall. Liming the soil will make nitrogen more available.