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non-flowering cherry trees

Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12
in Problem solving

I have two cherry trees which I bought 5 years ago at 3-4 foot high

The advert said they would grow to about 10 feet in total

They are now about 7 feet exactly as expected

However there is not the slightest sign of any blossom never mind cherries

They look very healthy apart from a little bit of black fly which is easily zapped

They are on fairly heavy soil (Essex south coast), so never dry out, but also do not ever get water-logged

Their position gets full sun from about 12:30 to sunset in winter and from about 10:30 to sunset in mid-summer

Any ideas?

Posts

  • Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12

    No - both trees are covered in buds at the moment , but I do nothing to the trees except spray undersides of leaves at the first sign of black fly.

    We have lots of wild birds, but I haven't noticed finches, I am sure a would as I sit outside and watch quite often

    Prominent  birds are wild pigeon, coot, duck, doves and robins. Occasionally the seagulls come in land, but I haven't seen any of them take any interest in the cherry trees

    We also have many grey squirrels, but they also do not go near the cherry trees, as they are right by the pavement and there are much better places for squirrels nearby

  • Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12

    Excuse ignorance but I have never tried trees before

    Are the buds growing now on the vertical stems flower buds? (there are no leaves yet)

    If so I will watch them like a hawk and see what happens to them

    If it is birds is there anything non-violent that I can do to dissuade them?

  • Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12

    Thanks loads

     

    I will take pictures tomorrow and get back to you

  • Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12

    I have checked and I have both flower buds at the tips and also leaf buds

    Is there a way of preventing the birds from eating the flower buds, they do not eat the leaf buds as I get plenty of leaves.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    It might not be birds. The buds on my cherry tree used to get eaten by rose chafer beetles or their grubs. They also made lace of the leaves. They are quite pretty, shiny, metallic-green, small beetles but I never saw the grubs. As I couldn't and wouldn't spray, I hung birdfeeders nearby. The birds waited their turn in the cherry and soon dealt with the bugs. After a couple of years they were all gone, the blossom was back and they have not reappeared. Might not have worked if I had bullfinches thoughimage

  • Graham GriggsGraham Griggs Posts: 12

    Hi all

    Thanks for the help

    pansyface - An acre of cherry trees would be bliss, but sadly nowhere near enough room

    Both trees now have gazillions of buds and opening blossoms

    All I can think is that last year either a late frost killed them or something came and ate them

    We have had a very mild spring here so far, no frost at all so that could have been the reason last year which was frosty

    crossed fingers for some cherries this year

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Glad you've got blossom this year - thanks for letting us know image

     


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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