The Japanese cherry tree is a popular ornamental tree that has been used in gardens for centuries. They are native to Japan, and it is thought that they have been cultivated there since at least the 8th century.
Soil, Sun, and Water for Planting your Japanese Sakura Tree
Japanese cherry blossoms grow best in temperate climates with cool, rainy springs and warm, dry summers. These trees tend to grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5-7 and will not tolerate frost or freezing temperatures.
To plant your Japanese Sakura seed, you should first make sure that the soil is ready for planting by adding compost or organic matter to enrich it.
There are two types of soil that are good for Sakura trees: loam soil and clay soil.
- Loam soil has a mixture of sand, silt, and clay in its makeup.
- Clay soil is better than loam because it retains moisture more easily than loam does.
If you want your tree to have a small trunk, use heavy clay soil because the heavier particles will sink to the bottom of the hole when you fill it up with water or when it rains.
Light-weight loams will stay on top so your tree will have more room to grow vertically as well as horizontally.
Once you have settled for your soil, dig a hole that is 3 times as wide as the root ball of the tree but only 1/3 as deep, then place your Japanese Sakura seed into the hole.
Water your Sakura tree once a week or when the top of the soil is dry. You will need to water daily if you live in an area where it is very hot. You should also make sure that the soil stays moist but not saturated.
How to Prune Your Japanese Sakura Tree for Better Growth and Beauty
It is important to keep in mind that when pruning a Japanese Sakura tree, you are doing so for the sake of the tree for better growth and beauty. You are not doing it to make it “look like a bonsai”.
There are four basic principles to follow when pruning a Japanese Sakura Tree. These include:
- Remove dead, diseased, and dying branches first.
- Cut back large branches at least three or four feet from the trunk.
- Cut back small branches only if they cross over another branch or if they rub against other branches or the trunk of the tree.
- Use hand shears and bypass loppers when possible as they can cut more smoothly than an electric saw.
