Sweetheart Cherry Tree

1. Planting: Find a spot in your yard that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day and has well-draining soil. Plant your Sweetheart Cherry Tree in a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root's ball. After digging your hole, place the tree, back fill the soil and water to settle the roots. When you're done planting, add mulch near the base, but don't mulch around the trunk.

2. Watering: Water immediately after planting. Continue to water during the first summer if conditions become dry. Generally, we recommend watering about once a week, but if you're not sure when to water, simply check the soil. If the soil is dry at a depth of 2 to 3 inches, it's time to water.

3. Pruning: Prune in mid-July if the tree produces too many cherries and the branches become weighted. Otherwise, prune dead or diseased branches in the dormant season.

4. Fertilizing: Fertilize your Sweetheart in the spring and mid-summer using nitrogen fertilizer twice annually, applying 2 weeks after planting and 4 weeks after the first application. Use a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Fertilizer application ratios vary upon the formulation, so be sure to follow package directions. When applying, be sure fertilizer is 6 to 8 inches away from the trunk around the tree.