How often should I water cherry trees?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.For the first two years, irrigate young cherry trees with 5-7 gallons (19-26 liters) of water twice a week. Established trees require 10-15 gallons (38-57 liters) of water every 7-10 days when there is no precipitation. I lost one tree to root rot due to overwatering, so deep and infrequent waterings stimulate stronger roots.
Young Trees
- Frequency: Twice weekly
- Volume: 5-7 gallons (19-26 L) per session
- Best Time: Early morning to reduce evaporation
Mature Trees
- Frequency: Every 7-10 days in drought
- Volume: 10-15 gallons (38-57 L) per session
- Signs of Stress: Wilting leaves, cracked fruit
Make adjustments in watering your plan with seasonal conditions. The heat of the summer in zones 5-7 may call for watering every week. Water less in winter, consider once a month if no snow is present. My Bing cherry tree did well with a drip system programmed for 15 minutes every 8 days in July.
Examine the moisture content in the soil by digging down about 6 inches (15 cm). If you find it to be dry you should water the plant immediately. Use a 3-4 inch (7.6-10 cm) layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture. Do not wet the leaves of the plant and a drip hose will water the roots directly. Overhead sprinklers can cause problems with fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
Read the full article: How to Grow Cherry Trees From Seed or Sapling
