Prunus pendula (Weeping Cherry)

Garden Design with a Weeping Cherry Tree

Designing a garden with a Weeping Cherry tree can create a stunning focal point and a beautiful year-round display.

• Focal Point: The Weeping Cherry tree makes an excellent centerpiece in the garden due to its elegant weeping form and vibrant spring blossoms. It’s best placed where it can be viewed from multiple angles or from inside your home.
• Reflective Surfaces: Planting a Weeping Cherry near a pond or other reflective surface can heighten the visual impact of its cascading branches and abundant blossoms.
• Underplanting: Underneath the tree, consider shade-tolerant plants like Hostas and Ferns, or ground cover like Ivy. These plants provide a lush, green carpet that contrasts beautifully with the cascading branches of the cherry tree.
• Companion Planting: Weeping Cherry trees look great when surrounded by spring-flowering bulbs like Daffodils, Tulips, and Crocuses. The bursts of color from these flowers complement the tree’s pink blossoms.
• Ornamental Grasses: The soft textures of ornamental grasses, such as Hakone grass or Fountain Grass, can contrast the tree’s cascading branches and create movement and depth in the garden.
• Multi-seasonal Interest: For year-round interest, combine the Weeping Cherry with plants that offer autumn color, interesting bark, or winter berries. This ensures that your garden remains attractive throughout the year.
• Bird-Friendly: The tree’s branches provide shelter for birds, making it a great addition to a bird-friendly garden. Consider adding bird feeders or a birdbath nearby to attract more birds.
• Night Garden: Illuminate your Weeping Cherry with landscape lighting to highlight its graceful form at night. This can create a dramatic effect, making the tree a round-the-clock feature in your garden.

Remember to leave enough room for plants to grow to their mature size without crowding the tree, and always consider the specific light and soil conditions in your location when choosing companion plants.

Growing Weeping Cherry

Weeping cherry trees do well in most gardens, and their care requirements are minimal. There are a few things to bear in mind, though, before purchasing a flowering cherry tree:

• Location: Choose a location with full sun to partial shade. They require at least 6 hours of sunlight daily to produce the best bloom and growth. Therefore it is important to plant your tree in a spot that is not too shady or crowded.
• Soil: These trees prefer relatively fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. Amend heavy clay or sandy soils with compost or other organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.
• Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil and firm gently. Ensure the mature height and spread of the tree you wish to purchase will fit your intended area. The best time to plant is in early spring, after the danger of frost has passed, or in early fall, allowing plenty of time for roots to establish before the first freeze.
• Watering: Water deeply and thoroughly after planting. Afterward, maintain consistent moisture, particularly in dry periods, but be careful not to overwater.
• Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. Ensure the mulch is not piled up against the trunk of the tree, as this can promote disease.
• Pruning: Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth starts but after the threat of extreme cold has passed. Remove dead, diseased or crossing branches. Since it’s a weeping tree, you can also prune for shape, removing any upward growing branches to maintain the weeping habit.
• Fertilizing: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to promote growth. It’s generally not necessary to fertilize mature trees unless your soil is deficient in key nutrients.
• Pests and Diseases: Flowering cherries are susceptible to insect and fungal disease problems. Regular pruning to thin out branches and allow for better air and light circulation will help keep your tree healthy. Watch for caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and blossom wilt.
• Winter Care: In colder regions, consider wrapping young trees or applying a layer of mulch around the base to protect from frost.

Overall, with the right care, a Weeping Cherry tree can be a stunning addition to your landscape for many years to come.