Step-by-step instructions for cutting cherry trees in the summer with your own hands

Cherries can be easily propagated using the vegetative method - cuttings. This is the simplest and most effective method that allows you to preserve all the valuable varietal qualities in a new plant. Anyone can take cherry cuttings in the summer if you know the specifics of the procedure and perform it correctly. Let's look at how to propagate cherries from an adult bush vegetatively.

Is it possible to propagate cherries from cuttings in summer?

Experienced gardeners often use this method when expanding the area of ​​gardens or replacing old or diseased fruit trees.

Cherry responds well to cuttings, and it is important to follow the technology of cutting, rooting and planting the source material. The cuttings take root well, but require care.

Attention! Due to the biological characteristics of cherries (lack self-fertility for some varieties) it is recommended to grow at least one pair of trees nearby with the same flowering periods.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is not always possible to find a suitable seedling, but summer cherry cuttings are an effective solution that has many advantages:

• preservation of the properties of the mother tree variety: external and taste characteristics, yield, ripening time, resistance to frost and diseases;
• the possibility of independent rapid propagation of the crop;
• simplicity of the procedure that does not require specific skills;
• obtaining several dozen cuttings without damaging the plant;
• saving money;
• confidence in the quality of planting material as opposed to purchased material;
• the formation of a strong root system at the time of planting, which facilitates the establishment of the plant;
• rapid growth, entry into fruiting already in the 3rd year of life.

Among the disadvantages, it is noted that the survival rate of cuttings of many varieties does not exceed 50%. Plants need shelter for the winter, regular and abundant watering, and the addition of drugs to stimulate growth.

Optimal timing for summer cuttings

Summer is the most active season of work at the dacha, among which plant propagation plays an important role. Suitable air temperatures and long daylight hours help accelerate the formation of roots in young plants and their survival.

Cherry cuttings are carried out throughout the summer, but the result will be more effective if the procedure occurs at the beginning of June. During this period, the plant develops most intensively, saturated with nutrients for growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, carbohydrates.

Favorable days

Many gardeners cut cherry trees in accordance with the lunar calendar, which indicates the phases of the waxing and waning moon and favorable days for such procedures.

Initial material for planting is harvested only on the waxing Moon on the following dates:

• June: 1–4, 21–31;
• July: 24–27;
• August: 1, 2, 20–31.

Suitable cherry varieties

As a result of cuttings, not all varieties show equally high survival rate.

The most suitable ones with an effectiveness of up to 80% are:

1. Vladimirskaya. An ancient (more than 300 years old) and very popular variety in Russia with fruits of medium ripeness. It grows as a large bush (2.5–4 m) with several central conductors and a dense weeping crown. When grafted, it is a single-trunk tree.The fruits are small, turnip-shaped, weighing a maximum of 3.4 g (usually 2.5–3 g). The variety is characterized by frost resistance, productivity and good transportability. The outer shell of the berry is burgundy, almost black, dotted with gray dots. The pulp is dark red, dense, juicy, the taste is pleasant sweet and sour, with barely noticeable tart notes.
2. Rastunya. Local variety of the Middle and Lower Volga region of folk selection. The tree is tall, with a wide pyramidal crown of medium density. Fruits in 4-5 years. The fruits are small (up to 2.5 g), round, slightly flattened, formed in inflorescences (from 1 to 3), ripen in mid-July. The pulp is dark red, medium density, juicy. The taste is sweet and sour, slightly astringent. A medium-ripening variety with above-average yield, winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
3. Nadezhda Krupskaya. The variety is widespread in Vladimir and other regions of the Non-Black Earth Region. The tree is bush-shaped, reaches a height of 2 m. The crown is dense, rounded, somewhat weeping. The branches are thin and hang down to the sides. The elasticity of their wood allows them to withstand abundant harvests of large berries. Cherries begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The fruits ripen mainly in July. The yield is high and annual: an adult tree produces an average of 10–12 kg of berries. The fruits are medium in size (3.5–4 g), the skin is very thin, the flesh is light red. Winter hardiness is average.

Selection and preparation of cuttings

How to take cherry cuttings? 2 days before the procedure, the mother tree is watered abundantly so that the plant tissues are well saturated with moisture. The best time for this is early morning or evening.

A higher survival rate is observed for green cuttings taken from the top of the current year's shoots.

Advice! Gardeners have a way to check the suitability of planting material for cutting - wrap it around your finger. If it doesn't break, you can start the procedure.

First inspect the young branch, which should be healthy and without damage. Cut cuttings with a diameter of 4–5 mm and a length of 5–7 cm so that each has 2 buds. 1.5 cm of the cutting is left under the bottom, and a cut is made from the top directly above the bud.

A sharp knife or razor is used for this work, since a blunt instrument damages the vascular system of the workpiece. The cut cuttings are immediately immersed with their bases in water to prevent the leaves from drying out.

How to propagate cherries using woody cuttings? To do this, at the end of summer they are cut 10–12 cm long from annual shoots. The lower cut is made 3–5 mm below the bud, the upper cut 5–10 mm above.

The cuttings are tied into bunches, buried halfway in sand or wet sawdust in a cool room and stored until spring. At the same time, the substrate is moderately moistened; drying out or soaking is unacceptable.

Cherries are propagated by air layering much less frequently, but some gardeners resort to this method. Work order:

1. In early June, the lower branch of a young tree (thin, unbranched, 3–5 years old) is bent to the ground and pinned.
2. Make sure that the shoot lies horizontally.
3. The folded area is sprinkled with soil and watered.

A full-fledged root system is formed within a year. Then the cuttings are separated from the mother tree and planted in a permanent place of growth.

The branch for air layering is taken above the grafting site, as a result a young self-rooted cherry of an identical variety is obtained.

Rooting methods

Before rooting, the cuttings are kept for 12–24 hours in a solution of a root formation stimulator (“Epina”, “Kornevina” or “Heteroauxin”).

Rooting in the ground:

1. Take any container: containers for seedlings, cut-off 2-liter plastic bottles, or specially put together boxes.
2. Fill it with a nutritious substrate of turf soil and humus (1:1), add superphosphate, nitrogenous fertilizers and ash.
3. Carefully moisten and deepen the cuttings by 3 cm, keeping a distance between them of at least 10 cm.

Immediately after planting, the container is covered with film to create a greenhouse effect and accelerate root formation. The mini-greenhouse is located in a shaded place outside or in a bright room with an air temperature of +22...+25°C.

It is important to create high humidity in the greenhouse, so once every 5 days the cuttings are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle, periodically watered and ventilated. With proper care, roots will appear in 2 weeks. It will take the same amount of time for them to take root.

Some gardeners use a simpler rooting method. To do this, cuttings kept in a growth stimulator and moistened with a spray bottle are packaged in plastic bags and placed in partial shade.

At summer temperatures and high humidity, root buds will form. In September, plants are planted in light soil and mulched in late autumn.

Is it possible to propagate a tree by shoots, and will they bear fruit?

Is it possible to grow cherries from shoots? This method is considered the easiest, but only varietal or own-rooted plants are suitable for it.. Their shoots will produce trees that will fully retain their varietal qualities.

Only strong, developed offspring 1-2 years old are selected.In early spring, cut the root coming from the mother plant. After this, the shoots are shortened by 1/3, watered and fertilized.

In October, the root is cut from the second side. After a year, the plant is dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.

Planting ready-made cuttings

After rooting, the finished cuttings are planted in light soil. To prepare the substrate, take garden soil, peat and sand (1:1:2). Add 20 g of superphosphate per 1 kg of soil to this mixture.

Important! Choose a place for planting that is slightly shaded and protected from the winds.

The cuttings are planted in the soil to a depth of 3–5 cm and placed strictly vertically. The earth around is compacted and watered. After water is absorbed, mulch with peat.

Features of cuttings depending on the type of cherry

Not all cherry varieties are capable of rooting.

Well-rooted (80–90%) include:

• Shubinka;
• Zhagarskaya;
• Dawn of the Volga region;
• Vole.

The following varieties take root moderately (up to 50%):

• Fertile Michurina;
• Half fat;
• Apukhtinskaya;
• Dessert Volga.

Depending on the region

In the middle lane and the southern regions of Russia, where there is stable snow cover in winter and the ground does not freeze much, cuttings are planted in the soil in August.

In harsh climatic conditions, planting is carried out in early June. For the winter, young plants must be protected from frost.

Further care

Propagation by cuttings is a relatively simple procedure, but after planting the plants require care, which includes the following:

1. Watering. Young plants need a lot of moisture. The soil in the temporary area is constantly moistened, but waterlogging is not allowed. When water stagnates, the root system will begin to rot.
2. Feeding. The cuttings are fertilized every 2 weeks.For this, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium salt are used. To speed up the appearance of green shoots, nitrogen is added.
3. Protection from drafts. In the first month after planting, the cuttings are covered with a jar or plastic wrap. This helps maintain a relatively stable microclimate. The cover is removed every day for a couple of hours.
4. Insulation. For the winter, the cuttings are covered with a large layer of sawdust, peat, vegetable tops or spruce branches.

Advice from experienced gardeners

To get healthy and strong plants, it is important to listen to the recommendations of experienced gardeners:

1. The cutting location on the shoot is chosen 2 weeks before cutting. It is wrapped in black material for 3 cm. This stimulates cell degeneration and increases the likelihood of rooting by 30%.
2. Green cuttings are taken from young trees.
3. When applying fertilizer, the cuttings are watered with clean water.
4. The cut is made with a sharp knife to minimize damage to the plants.

Conclusion

Propagating cherries by cuttings in the summer allows you to quickly and easily create a new plant.

The main thing is to take the preparation of planting material responsibly and choose the optimal timing. Young cuttings need to be regularly moistened and fertilized every 2 weeks, and insulated from frost in the winter.