Weeping Cherry Tree
The weeping cherry tree is best known for the beautiful pink or white blossoms it has every spring. An extremely popular landscape tree, a weeping cherry grows to 20-30 feet tall with an almost equal width of 15-20 feet across. It adapts to most soils, no matter whether clay, loamy, or sandy. It does like well-drained soil and be planted in a sunny location. It is a tree that is meant to be showy and is magnificent when in bloom. The down side is that a weeping cherry tree does require higher than average maintenance to stay looking healthy and attractive.
Weeping Cherry Trees are best grown in zones four to eight, and can be seen in the greatest quantity throughout the south where they thrive in the warmer temperatures. It is also one of the many varieties of cherry trees that shows off its foliage with other varieties of cherry trees at the annual Spring Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. The trees are known for their heavy foliage, and are usually grown along walkways and front lawns. Two popular varieties of the weeping cherry tree are the Weeping Higan Cherry Tree and the Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry.
As for maintenance, it is a necessary to prune a weeping cherry tree regularly. They will need strong leaders to hold the weight of the weeping branches. These branches can droop very close to the ground. So, leave the strong shoots growing from the top pretty much alone. Mulch is advised for underneath the tree, so that it can be left with no need of being mowed. Make sure to prune the first time when the tree is still young. Best time to prune is in the fall or late summer. You should remove the suckers and water spouts. If you intend to let the tree droop all the way to the ground, the best thing is not to prune the ends of the branches. If you have planted one of the varieties, the Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree, most people prune it very little, leaving it with have a natural look.
A weeping cherry tree is susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. Aphids, borers, tent caterpillars, and spider mites are among the insects to look for that like to feed on its leaves and branches. The most common disease for the tree are cankers which is a fungal infection. Leaf spots can be a problem and these are caused by bacteria. Black knot, a disease that causes little raised black spots on the branches is a possible problem for this tree as is powdery mildew, which will cover the leaves with a powdery white coating.
Overall, the beauty of a weeping cherry tree will far outweigh the attention it requires. If you plan on planting one, head to the garden store or nursery early in the season as it is such a popular variety it usually sells out quickly.