Grow a Cherry Blossom Tree

The Japanese word for cherry blossom trees is Sakura and is roughly translated as "Japanese flowering cherry." The flowers are referred to as cherry blossoms. There is a common misconception that these trees produce cherries, but they actually don't. The fruit-bearing cherry tree is a completely different species of tree. The cherry blossom tree's name comes from the soft and pretty pastel pink blossoms they produce.

The cherry blossom tree is known for its short yet beautiful blooming season which ends with an inevitable fall to the ground. For Japanese people, this symbolizes the way of human life where rising, blossoming, and falling are part of our natural destiny.

If you would like to plant and grow one of these flower producing trees, then review the steps below.

Steps

  1. Find a location. If you're planting in your backyard, make sure that the spot you locate has plenty of sunlight and allows for good drainage.
  2. Buy a seedling or young cherry blossom plant from your local nursery. If you buy from a local nursery, check for plants that can grow in your zone Cherry blossoms grow well in zones 5 to 8. If these plantings were produced from your zone, that would make them more suitable for transplanting in your area. However, this doesn't mean that other cherry blossoms sold in other locations wouldn't work for your area. You can find nurseries in zones where cherry blossoms flourish as your best resources. Do your research well when buying out of your area or online.
  3. If you've bought a young cherry blossom plant instead of a seed, dig a hole about a size and a half of the plant base using a spade or shovel. Loosen the roots very gently before placing inside the hole. Make sure that you don't dig the hole too deep so that the trunk will be exposed. Allow for about three inches of the soil base to rise above the soil.
  4. Add soil mix. Cherry blossoms can tolerate a variety of pH range. Check with your nursery to find what the best pH level is for the plant you chose.
  5. Water, and let it drain well before adding additional water.
  6. Apply compound fertilizer with minerals only once a year. The nutrients are slowly released to the root system only when plants are active growing during warm weather. NPK mixture or Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potassium (15-9-12).
  7. Enjoy your brilliant, beautiful cherry blossoms!

Tips

  • After bloom is gone, make sure to defoliate, or remove old leaves from the tree, to encourage new growth.
  • Prune branches at least once a year.
  • If you plant it in a moist area and with other foliage around it that will grow under the tree, this will help to keep soil moist.
  • If you plant your cherry blossom tree beside a path, the faded spring blossoms will drop to the surface to create a confetti of dainty petals.

Warnings

  • Don't saturate too heavily with water.
  • Avoid cutting down branches to the trunks like oak trees for the branches may not re-grow.
  • Watch the moss. Use a garden hose or hands to keep the moss of branches that can inhibit growth.

Things You'll Need

  • cherry blossom seedlings or young plants from nursery
  • pot or planting area
  • soil
  • soil mix
  • fertilizer
  • water
  • basic gardening tools (spade, shovel, pruner)

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