How to properly water cherries in summer: instructions for novice gardeners
Garden crops need a certain amount of water. It gives them strength for normal development, growth and fruit formation. Cherry is a drought-resistant plant, so it is rarely watered. However, the amount of watering is an indicator of yield. Let's take a closer look at how to water cherries in the summer.
Should you water cherries in summer?
During the entire growing season, cherries are watered 3-4 times.
Activities are tied to specific phases of tree development:
- after flowering - depends on climate and varieties, so it’s difficult to give an exact date;
- at the stage of ovary formation;
- after the harvest, but often the procedure is postponed to the beginning of September;
- until October 20, during preparation for wintering.
The last watering is not carried out if it is a rainy autumn. Otherwise, moisture will accumulate in the upper layers of the soil, which will lead to rotting and death of the roots.
Does she like water?
Cherry is a drought-resistant crop that prefers to be saturated with moisture occasionally.
Experienced gardeners recommend adhering to watering in accordance with the phases of the growing season.
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How often to water
In addition to phased watering, gardeners use an artificial water shower.
The following nuances are taken into account:
- Seedlings are given water regularly during their first year of life. Every 2 weeks, 1.5–2 buckets are poured under the bush.
- In dry, hot weather, water is given to adult bushes 2 times a month, and to one-year-old seedlings every week.
- During fruit formation, the volume of liquid is increased at your discretion. If the soil is very dry at a depth of 5-6 cm, increase the amount of water by 2-3 times.
In dry October, up to 4 liters of water are poured under the tree. This way it will survive the winter better.
Important! With each watering, 1 plant consumes 10 to 15 liters of liquid.
The soil is mulched with cut grass, compost or humus to prevent moisture evaporation.
Water requirements for irrigation
For one-year-old trees, use settled water kept overnight or for several days.
It is allowed to water with rainwater from an outdoor container that has been standing in the open air. Adult plants are moistened with plain water from a hose or bucket.
What can I add?
After fruiting, a mixture of 40 g of superphosphate and 60 g of potassium salt is added to the tree trunk circle and watered well.
At the beginning of summer, cherry leaves are sprayed with a urea solution: 40 g of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water at a temperature of +30...+35°C. This will activate the growth of green mass, improve the formation of ovaries, and prevent the appearance of cherry sawflies, weevils and black aphids.
How to properly water cherries in summer
Frequent watering harms the plant, so the soil is fed rarely, but abundantly. It is good if the liquid penetrates to the lower roots to a depth of 40 cm.
A few more tips:
- light and frequent irrigation harms the plant, since little oxygen enters the soil and the roots are not saturated with it;
- water is poured only into the trench around the tree;
- try not to wet the root collar;
- after water procedures, loosen the ground;
- remove weeds regularly;
- Sprinkle the roots with soil if they begin to peek out after moisture has entered.
If the cherry grows in a dark and poorly ventilated area, moisten it only 2 times: during the fruiting period and in mid-October.
What mistakes to avoid
It is not recommended to flood mature trees. It is better to irrigate young seedlings using a watering can using the sprinkling method, otherwise the pressure of water from the hose will damage the thin trunk and the cherry will bend towards the ground.
Watering cherries when planting
The procedure is performed in spring or autumn, after planting plants. First, create a near-trunk circle at a distance of 50 cm from the seedling. Pour 2-3 buckets of water into it.
As soon as the moisture is absorbed, the soil is lightly compacted. The top layer of soil is mulched with dried grass, compost or humus.
For the first time, the seedling is watered from a watering can. This way the moisture will be better distributed over the entire surface of the earth.
Advice! If the rains were moderate in summer, watering is carried out after the top layer of soil has dried. During prolonged rainy weather, additional irrigation is stopped.
To saturate a newly planted tree with moisture, use 10–15 liters of warm water.
During flowering
Watering cherries during flowering is a mandatory procedure. The period falls in the first half of May, and in the southern regions - at the end of April.
Water the plants according to the following scheme:
- 3–5 buckets are poured under 1 bush at a time;
- Irrigate twice a month;
- if the weather is too hot and dry in May, apply 30–50 liters of water under an adult tree every week.
During fruiting
Water the cherries no later than 15 days before the start of harvest. Use 3-5 buckets, and in drought - 8-10.
Excessive moisture will cause cracking and rotting of the fruit.
Rules for watering seedlings
Regardless of the time of planting, the rules for watering seedlings are general:
- The first procedure is carried out to compact the soil around the root system. Use a sprinkler for this. Set the average pressure for uniform irrigation of the tree. The duration of the procedure is from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- If there is no running water, the plants are watered from a watering can for the first time. 2 buckets are enough.
- In dry summers, the seedlings are irrigated once a week using 2-3 buckets of water.
- In rainy summers, water procedures are carried out as the soil dries.
Such activities are carried out for 1 year. During this time, the young cherry will form a high-quality root system. Then watering is carried out from a hose.
Trees from year
In the second year, activities are performed if:
- drought lasts a long time;
- the soil constantly dries out in a sunny area;
- too hot summer.
The amount of water and frequency of procedures coincide with the rules for watering seedlings up to 1 year old.
It happens that cherries begin to leaves dry out even if watering recommendations are followed. This is a signal of damage to the root system. It is enough to loosen the soil in the tree trunk circle so that oxygen can better reach the roots.
Trees from 2 to 5 years
Such cherries do not require frequent watering. Experienced gardeners add water only during flowering, fruiting and dry weather.
Pour up to 10 buckets under the bush once during the period of fruit formation, 5 buckets - during the flowering period, 30 liters 3-4 times - during drought.
From 5 to 15 years
Cherries at this age practically do not require watering. It is sufficiently saturated with moisture from heavy rains.
It is permissible to feed the tree during the fruiting period with a volume of up to 50 liters at a time.
Reference. In autumn, irrigation is carried out regularly and abundantly until mid-October. Place 3 buckets under the bush once a week.The activities will help the crop prepare for winter by strengthening the root system.
old trees
If the cherry grows in a dark place, it is not watered. In a sunny area with prolonged heat, add 60 liters of water 2 times a month.
It is believed that after 15 years the culture is fully formed and is able to survive at the expense of its own strength and environmental conditions.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners do not adhere to strict rules for watering cherries, but take into account the amount of precipitation and soil condition. Mulch the tree trunk to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.
Some tips:
- every spring and autumn, mulch the root circle with a layer of pine needles, sawdust, peat up to 7 cm high;
- additionally water the cherries after fertilizing;
- adult trees over 5 years old do not require watering; it is permissible to give 5 buckets 2-3 times per season in dry summers;
- for young seedlings, additionally create a circular depression with a diameter of 40 cm and a depth of 15–20 cm - this way the water will remain in the ditch for a long time, and the number of waterings will be reduced to 2 times a month;
- Water the newly planted tree from a watering can or using a special sprinkler.
Conclusion
It is important to water the cherry tree correctly so that it bears a large number of fruits. Any settled water at room temperature is suitable for this. The volume of liquid is adjusted depending on the age of the tree and the condition of the soil.
Young plants love frequent and abundant watering, while adults are saturated with moisture from natural precipitation.