Planting cherry trees is much like planting any other type of fruit tree, and special considerations must be made for the planting location, natural water drainage capabilities of the chosen location, and number of trees to be planted. Most gardening experts make little distinction between the types of cherry trees in terms of planting preferences. Many experts do recommend purchasing a sapling for planting, as opposed to planting cherry seeds. Home gardeners often have a difficult time encouraging trees to grow from seed under normal conditions. All types of cherry trees such as sweet, sour, and ornamental varieties can be found in local nurseries, catalogs, or online sources.
One of the first things to determine when planting cherry trees is the best location to ensure good tree health. It is typically recommended to choose an area of the yard that is large enough to support years of tree growth. Homeowners may decide to purchase dwarf versions if space is limited. In either case, it is important for the selected spot to offer full sun coverage as well as natural protection from the cold air found in low lying areas, especially in the spring. When newly planted, experts suggest removing grass from the base of the cherry tree in a 4 ft (approximately 1.2 meter) circle to prevent the grass from stealing vital nutrients from the sapling.
Water is an important aspect of both planting cherry trees and maintaining them. When choosing the placement of the new tree, careful analysis of water drainage is crucial. The gardener or homeowner will need to ensure that the yard space naturally supplies adequate water drainage. Cherry trees do not thrive in spaces with standing water, and often become diseased or die when exposed to too much water. While over watering is never suggested, watering the cherry sapling immediately after planting helps the roots to stabilize and reduces stress to the tree.
Many gardening experts recommend planting cherry trees in groups of 2 or more, as these trees are not self pollinating. Single cherry trees may produce a small amount of fruit, but for people looking for larger crops, it will be necessary to plant additional trees. The trees do not have to be of precisely the same species unless the owner prefers. It is recommended to choose cherry trees with similar bloom times to take advantage of the pollination benefits. Experienced gardeners suggest tying each cherry sapling to a garden stake for a short time until the root system is able to fully anchor into the ground.