The sakura cherry has its own special purpose. In its homeland, this wild fruit tree is a symbol of the country, and there is even a cherry blossom festival. People in China treat the plant no less carefully. In Russia, Japanese cherry is not so popular, but many gardeners dream of having such a luxury in their garden or plot. As it turned out, the tree can be grown in most regions and in the spring you can enjoy pleasant aromas and charming flowers.
The difference between Japanese cherries and other varieties
Japanese cherry is an ornamental crop, so it should not be planted if fruit-bearing fruit trees are needed.It blooms luxuriously and is a real decoration of the site, and then cherries appear on it, but they are too small and not suitable for consumption.
Sakura is a tree, its height varies from 8 to 15 m, the length of its shoots is about a meter. During the flowering period, it is covered with flowers in shades of white and pink.
Varieties
The name sakura hides one and a half dozen species and several hundred subspecies of Japanese cherry. But most often on the plots there are two varieties of trees - Kiku Shidare and Kanzan. They are not inferior in beauty to other representatives of the species, but at the same time they are more resistant to temperature changes, pests and do not require complex care.
Kiku Shidare
Finely serrated cherries of this variety are suitable for growing in the forest-steppe zone, where the climate is temperate continental. The height of the tree is 3.5-4 meters.
Kiku Shidare has a spreading crown, prone to thickening. It is covered with elliptical-shaped leaves with jagged edges.
This variety decorative cherry especially valued for its early, extended flowering period. Already at the end of March - beginning of April it turns into a white-pink cloud due to large, dense flowers.
Kiku Shidare is a self-fertile variety, and even if one tree is planted, with proper care it will actively bloom and bear fruit.
Kanzan
Another type of tree-like garden sakura, which is lower than other decorative analogues. It has an obverse-conical crown that looks exotic and creative, which is why it is often chosen for decorating local areas.
The tree grows at an average speed, the leaves are elongated, oval, and in the fall they acquire a fiery yellow color. Kanzan's flowers are massive, fragrant, pink in color.They form hanging long inflorescences of 3-6 pieces.
Kanzan cherry is a light-loving crop that grows best in neutral and highly alkaline soils.
Features of cultivation
Garden sakura is often planted with seeds, which are well prepared - washed and dried. It is better to plant in summer, but both spring and autumn planting are possible.
If you want to purchase a seedling, then you need to choose a strong, healthy plant. You can transfer them to the ground in April, placing the trees at a distance of 2-3 meters from each other.
The landing site requirements are as follows:
- if possible, it is better to choose a site on the slopes;
- it should be moderately lit; in strong lighting, the plant may get sunburned;
- Soil acidity is neutral; loamy soil is considered the best option.
Care
Caring for sakura is not difficult; naturally, special attention should be paid to a young, immature tree. You need to take care of the following:
- Watering - water as needed, but the tree especially needs moisture when the buds swell and in the first 2 weeks of active flowering.
- Fertilizing - introduced during watering; Humus, compost, and mineral fertilizers (nitrogen-potassium) are placed in the tree trunk circle; Do not use fertilizing for cherries, which strongly acidifies the soil.
Japanese cherry does not tolerate wintering well, so it is worth insulating it: add potassium and phosphorus in the fall. Fertilizers should not contain nitrogen - it will not allow the cherry to get rid of its leaves before frost. A week and a half before the expected temperature drop, you should wrap the trunk and grafting area with covering material, and use dense agrofibre for skeletal shoots. Film and other non-breathable materials cannot be used.
Trimming
It is important not to allow the sakura crown to thicken, otherwise the tree will lose all its decorative value. It is recommended to trim the shoots in the spring, before the sap flows. Damaged, excess, dried branches are removed, and the cuts are immediately covered with a layer of garden varnish.
During the procedure, you need to act carefully so that gum formation does not start - a non-infectious disease called gommosis.
Garden sakura is the beauty of a plot or local area, the pride of the owner, arousing the admiring glances of others. At the same time, the cherry tree is undemanding - the main thing is to take into account the characteristics of the eastern guest.
