Every time I plant a tree I bemoan the fact that I did not plant it years ago.
If I had planted it 12 years ago when we first moved here it would have already grown large and be producing either shade, wind protection or fruit.
My goal this year is to plant any tree that I could possibly want here on the farm so I will not be kicking myself 10 years from now for not planting them 'back then'!
Today I'm planting a cherry tree...actually a large cherry bush.
Carmine Jewel Cherry
(is anyone else shocked every time you open a package of a mail order plant and shocked at the tiny size of it...I paid how much for this???)
It is a naturally dwarfing cherry that is grown on its own rootstock. It is touted to be nearly pest and disease free as well as extremely cold hardy, with a flavor better than sweet cherries...we'll see if it can beat a good Rainer.
It is also supposed to be so lovely that it can be used as an ornamental...I'm planting it in the corner of the garden next to the compost bin. I hope the bin appreciates such a fine and beautiful neighbor!
I started out by digging a hole where I wanted it...I chose a corner so I could easily use the fence to support any bird netting I might need in the future to protect it from marauding birds with a fetish for cherries.
I must say the soil in this spot doesn't look too bad, we have veins of sticky white clay that run throughout the property...nasty icky stuff!
I then back filled with a shovel full of partially composted manure, then more soil...
I was surprised to find that the itty bitty tree has some nice size roots...
After I planted it I put a plastic bottle that I had cut the bottom out of over the top and surrounded it by rocks. We get a lot of wind here so I needed to anchor the bottle down or it would have ended up across the garden in the chicken yard!
This will protect it not only from mild frosts (which it is supposed to be resistant to) as well as rabbits, mice, and slugs...although I suppose a really ambitious slug might be able to crawl up the side and in. I hate slugs for their acrobatic skills!
The rest of the corner was covered with a thick layer of newspaper covered by grass clippings...anything to not have to weed later!
It looks just to tiny sitting there in its bottle!
Here is the little guy all tucked in and ready to rock.
My advice for what it is worth...plant your trees now.
Plant them for the future...which will some day be the present and in the present you will be thankful that you planted them in the past instead of planting them now like I am or worse yet waiting to plant them in the future...really you will!
Anyway you can be sitting under them in a few years sipping lemonade enjoying their shady canopy...
Or yummy cherries!!!
