Am I Taking Good Care Of My Okame Cherry Tree?

Did you planted your Okame cherry tree in full sun?

Did you planted your Okame cherry tree in a well-drained soil?

Do you water your tree regularly?

Did you use mulch around the tree to conserve moisture in the soil and control weeds?

Do you feed your tree frequently?

Do you prune your tree to keep it healthy and tidy?

Do you keep your Okame cherry tree free of pests and diseases?

This tree wants full sun. Make sure to plant the tree in a location from where it can be seen for your enjoyment and has access to sunlight. If you live in a colder climate or up north, you should plant it in a location where it gets at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight.

Flowering cherry trees can do well in almost any kind of soil. As long as the soil drains well, your tree should grow well. Make sure your soil is moist for healthy growth, though. This hybrid cherry doesn’t do well in overly wet or clay soil, so make sure that you avoid these soil conditions.

Once the tree is planted, it's critical to give it adequate water to help its roots recover and send out new sprouts. Water every 3 days for the first few weeks, then water weekly, aiming for at least 1 inch of water each week. If you plant your tree when the weather is warm, it's a good idea to check the soil under the tree every few days to ensure it never becomes completely dry.

Adding a 2-to-3-inch thick layer of organic mulch, such as straw or shredded bark, to the tree's root zone can help conserve moisture, while also keeping down competing weeds.

You don’t need to fertilize too often for a cherry tree – once a year is a plenty. Give it a low-nitrogen fertilizer early in the spring, so it can use that nutrition throughout the growing season.

Pruning is necessary early in your tree’s life if you want to save yourself effort in later years. Because it’s not a huge tree, some pruning after the blooms fall off will help shape it in years to come.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Okame cherry tree.

Okame cherry trees are susceptible to caterpillars, leafminers, and bullfinches. In case you find pests attacking the tree, use a pesticide to get rid of them. Be careful not to damage your tree to avoid bacterial canker. The tree may also experience blight and mildew.