Is the Japanese early cherry an evergreen or a deciduous tree?

Japanese early cherry generally refers to Prunus subhirtella (the early cherry), which blooms pale red flowers in March-April and can bear black fruit by June, with high ornamental value. So is the Japanese early cherry an evergreen or a deciduous tree species?

1. Is the Japanese early cherry an evergreen or a deciduous tree species?

The Japanese early cherry is usually a deciduous tree, 3-10 m tall, with grayish-brown bark. The twigs are gray, and the young branches are green, densely covered with white short pubescence. The winter buds are ovoid, with sparse hairs at the tips of the scales.

2. How do you plant the Japanese early cherry?

1. Soil

The Japanese early cherry is not demanding about soil, and loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil is best; it is not tolerant of saline-alkaline soil. Its root system is relatively shallow, and it dislikes waterlogged low-lying land. It has a certain tolerance to cold and drought. Its resistance to smoke and wind is weak.

2. Planting

The best time to transplant the Japanese early cherry is in spring or autumn. Before planting, carefully prepare the ground; loose, fertile soil is best. Apply plenty of base fertilizer, and on flat ground dig a hole 1 m in diameter and 0.8 m deep. First fill about half the depth with improved soil, put the transplanted seedling into the pit, place the Japanese early cherry seedling in the center of the hole, spread the seedling roots in all directions, hold it upright, cover with soil, firm it down, and then water thoroughly. After the Japanese early cherry has survived transplanting, be sure to set up supports to protect the young seedling from being blown over by strong winds.

3. Fertilizing

The Japanese early cherry is fertilized twice a year, and acidic fertilizers work better. One is winter fertilizing, applying organic fertilizer in winter or early spring, such as bean cake, chicken manure and decomposed fertilizer; the other is applying ammonium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, superphosphate and other quick-acting fertilizers after flowering.

4. Watering

Prunus subhirtella likes a moist environment. In early March in spring, before budding, water once with green-up water; this watering must be done generously and thoroughly. In North China, appropriate watering should also be done in April and May. When there is more rainfall in summer, drain promptly to prevent root rot from excessive water. For plants planted in the same year, when the climate is relatively dry, foliar spraying can also be done, generally before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. In autumn, if it is not especially dry, generally do not water. Before winter begins, water thoroughly with anti-freezing water together with fertilizing; this watering is generally best from late November to early December.

5. Pest and disease control

For cherry blossoms, the main things to prevent are gummosis and root nodule disease, as well as pests such as aphids, red spider mites and scale insects. In addition, after flowering and before budding in early spring, dead branches, diseased and weak branches, and leggy branches should be pruned, which can also appropriately prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases.