How to Grow Sargent Cherry Trees

Native to Korea and northern Japan, Sargent Cherry trees are considered by many gardeners to be the premium variety of ornamental cherry trees. Among its many advantages is its long lifespan, often producing its lovely, deep pink blooms for half a century. Among the first to flower in the spring, the Sargent Cherry tree blooms well before many other cherry varieties, and virtually drips with an abundance of large, showy blossoms. The Sargent Cherry also ranks among the hardiest ornamental cherry trees, and is one of the largest varieties, growing to a height of 30 to 50 feet. With a strong, stout trunk, long flowing branches, and rich green foliage, few ornamentals can match the Sargent Cherry trees for year round visual impact and beauty.

Instructions

1. Choose a healthy, young Sargent Cherry tree to plant. While it is quite possible to procure them from any number of sources for less, from gardening catalogs to Internet retailers, shopping at a local nursery or garden center is often the best bet. By purchasing your Sargent Cherry trees in your local area, you are sure to get trees that are acclimated to your climate, improving the odds that they will transplant and grow successfully in your garden.

2. Select a location that best suits your young Sargent Cherry tree. They are happiest in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Sargent Cherry trees thrive in rich, loose, well drained soil, but will adapt to a variety of conditions, as long as soil is not prone to sogginess that can cause root rot. Slightly elevated ground is ideal for planting Sargent Cherry trees, promoting good drainage.

3. Prepare the soil. Loosen and aerate the soil where your Sargent Cherry tree will be planted, ensuring that roots will be able to spread easily. Your planting hole should be three times as wide and twice as deep as the rootball.

4. Set the young tree into the hole and add about half the soil. Tamp soil gently into the roots to eliminate air pockets, then finish back-filling the planting hole.

5. Water your newly planted tree deeply, and keep it moist throughout the first season of growth, but not soaking wet. Root rot can be avoided by watering only when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 inches.

6. Add support, such as a tube, cage, or stake to give your Sargent Cherry tree a good start, keeping it standing tall until it has developed a good system of roots to anchor it against the wind.

7. Mulch around the trunk to the drip line to help retain moisture in the soil and discourage weeds that would compete with your young tree for soil nutrients.