Seizing the moment!
By Fleur
@Fleura (30539)
United Kingdom
February 9, 2024 9:26am CST
My partner is especially fond of cherries. And neither of us is keen on mowing the grass (bear with me here!) So we tentatively decided a while ago that we would dig out some of the grass and plant a row of cherry trees instead.
Of course we only have a certain amount of space, and only about a third of that gets anything like enough sunshine. But we thought we’d try planting a row of three smallish ones just below our patio.
Late last summer I saw that a reputable supplier had a special offer on fruit trees, so I picked three varieties and ordered one of each. They were supplied as bare root trees so they wouldn’t be dispatched until the trees became dormant, in late autumn.
When the time came I received a message to say they were on their way. We started getting ready, marking out where to dig. But then the weather turned cold and when the trees arrived it was too frosty to plant them. Instead we had to stand them all in a big bucket and just cover the roots with a bag-full of compost. That was in November and they have been in the garage ever since, because as soon as the cold snap ended it started raining, and raining. Then we had another frosty spell, and then more and more rain. With our heavy clay soil the garden was a slippery mud-fest. And of course the daylight hours are short which makes it even harder to find a suitable time!
Finally, on Wednesday, it wasn’t raining, and the ground was surprisingly un-muddy even after a couple of days of heavy rain. And it now doesn’t go dark until 5:30 or so. My partner finishes work (at home) at 5pm so I asked if he could give me a hand as soon as he was free. He’s not much of a gardener but he is good at digging holes
So promptly at 5pm we rushed outside, dug a hole, mixed in a good dose of compost and a sprinkling of bone meal and planted the first tree, with a stake to hopefully hold it steady while it settles in. Then on to the second and we repeated the process. Just managed to get that one firmed in before it was just about too dark to see. But in 40 minutes we got two of them planted!
I was glad we took the opportunity and rushed out because after that it started raining again and has been pouring down yesterday and today. The third tree is still awaiting its chance.
I just hope they are still alive after the long wait. It’s hard to tell from a bare stick but I saw a tiny hint of a green bud on each tree so I’m hoping for the best.
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2024.
15 people like this
16 responses
@Fleura (30539)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb
@LadyDuck I previously planted two apple trees, a damson and a quince. I can't remember how long ago it was, must be more than three years. This year for the first time I got two quinces, a handful of damsons and a very few small apples. All the flowers are pretty though!
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47619)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Feb
Don't forget to untie the branches. Hope the weather co-operates soon so you can plant the third one.
1 person likes this
@mildredtabitha (16137)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Feb
Glad you enjoy gardening and have planted cherry trees. Rain is nice but keep warm
I miss the rain. The temperature is very high here so that the skin hurts when I stay outdoor for long.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
10 Feb
Oh, that sounds like a fun springish activity. Good luck on them. Cherries cost a lot in the stores so it is a good deal that you got three trees.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
10 Feb
I hope all your trees flourish. They should be OK. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
9 Feb
It's been a long wait because of all the weather situation. But glad that now two are planted. I hope that the third one does not have to wait much. Hope they bear lots of cherries in future.
1 person likes this
@Itsonlyadream (239)
•
9 Feb
I love cherries. I can't wait to see how they grow. Thank you for sharing every step along the way. I plant tomato plants every year sometimes they grow sometimes they don't do well. At least with cherry trees you will have cherries year after year.
1 person likes this
@MelissaAnn1979 (122)
• Beckley, West Virginia
10 Feb
Hopefully, it will stop raining soon and you can get your other one planted. I hope you get to enjoy the beautiful blooms on them.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50596)
• United States
9 Feb
Hopefully they will bring forth many cherries.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83074)
• United States
9 Feb
I hope you get lots of cherries from those trees. It should be interesting to see if the bud now that they've been planted.
1 person likes this