I've had a weeping cherry tree for about three years now. It was transplanted, and it was about 8 or 9 feet tall then. There were leaves on the tree, midsummer, I believe. She's done well ever since then except for the fact that every year up until this year she's bloomed about 5 blooms total each season. Last year she only bloomed 3 flowers. This year she's not bloomed at all, but she's putting out big beautiful leaves like always and growing like crazy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Kelly
From what you say, your tree sounds pretty healthy if the leaves are plentiful. Possibly you have been too kind to it? Most flowering plants put out more flowers when there is a lack of nutrients in the soil. Cut down on the nitrogen fertiliser and use only potash and it should improve in a year or two. I have one in my garden - I never feed it at all and it flowers madly every year (this is its third spring and the buds are looking good again).
Also - Susan - your tree may need a boost to the roots - try mixing bone meal into the topsoil (deep enough for the cats not to dig it up as they will eat it!). Once the leaves are looking good change to the potash fertiliser - potash is great for flowers.
Good luck both.
Generally, nitrogen encourages leaf and shoot growth. So cut back on the nitrogen. Phosphorus enhances energy production, and greatly helps with flowers and fruit (high energy users), potash helps with overall health. So less nitrogen and more phosphorus (bone meal) and potash (wood ashes) should help a lot with flowering.
And to the people that have trees with no buds - either at home or at the nursery, cherry buds are quite visible, if there are no buds its dead. If it is at the nursery or Home Depot - don't buy it unless it has full visible buds.
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We have a weeping cherry tree which has been planted in the same position for approximately 5 years and each year it has an average of about 1 flower a year.
I feed it regularly every 4 months with Dynamic Lifter and have it on a dripper system for watering in the summer. I read in June of this year that you can feed monthly with a solution of Epsom salts (1 teaspoon per 2 litres of water), but still it has only 1 flower. My wife has come up with a solution of treating it with an axe therapy, but I would like to to keep trying as the leaf growth is very strong and it is a healthy tree. Any suggestions or hints would be valuable.
Weeping Cherry Tree not blooming
Step 1
1. You must prune it. Overcrowded branches don't bloom.
Step 2
2. Fungal disease.
Step 3
3. Winter damage- prune damaged parts off.
They often don't bloom until they are 6 years old or older, so that you have had any blooms is pretty amazing...of course, that is where I am, not sure what zone you are in.
This site has the best info I have found about them.
www.gardeningknowhow.com/
This site warns about over pruning as it takes away from the graceful waterfall (weeping) look.
Another good point this article makes is to avoid pesticides whenever possible since these lovely trees are so popular with wildlife.
It talks about fertilizing needs also....which I may be the naysayer about, but I disagree with and rarely fertilize anything.
Sending your tree lots of healthy wishes and the hope that next year it hits its magical full bloom glory!!
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