How to Fertilize Dwarf Cherry Trees

Dwarf cherry trees produce fruit in a fraction of the space required by standard cherry trees such as Bing, Northstar and Meteor. Fertilizing a dwarf cherry tree annually will help it produce more fruit, strengthen the trunk and branches, and increase residual sugar storage in the leaves to boost the flavor of the summer crop.

Things You'll Need

• Dwarf cherry tree
• Hoe
• High nitrogen fertilizer formulated for fruit trees
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Prepare to fertilize your dwarf cherry tree in early spring before it begins to flower, typically the last week of March.

2. Use a hoe to aerate the soil around the perimeter of the tree trunk about 1 foot out.

3. Calculate how much fertilizer to prepare by measuring the diameter of the tree trunk about 1 foot from the ground. Mix 1/8 lb. of nitrogen-rich fertilizer for every inch of trunk diameter. For example, a dwarf cherry tree trunk that is 8 inches in diameter should receive 1 lb. of fertilizer.

4. Using a bucket, pour the fertilizer onto the aerated ground about one foot out from the tree trunk. The fertilizer will work its way to the roots and be absorbed by the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't overfertilize your dwarf cherry trees. Too much fertilizer can encourage leaf and branch growth at the expense of cherry production.

References

• National Gardening Association Guide to Dwarf Cherry Trees
• Cherry Tree Fertilizing Tips
• Fertilizer Quantities