[scabs]

I bought one of Aldi's £4-odd Morello Cherry trees today on a whim; I really hadn't planned on getting one. 

Anyway, I chose a spot today and planted it and was wondering if there was anything I could underplant around it?

Also, given the weather up here (sunshine, rain, wind and hail - and that's just today) should I really have planted it today or waited a while?

[poultrygeist]

Bargain !!

I think the advice is to keep a grass/weed/plant free zone around the base until it's established.

You might need to stake it in case the wind rocks the rootball. Also, you might need to protect any blossom from late frosts but it's again advised to remove fruits the first year so it can establish quicker.

But that's just what i remember from years ago. Thinking may have moved on since then.

Rob

[scabs]

Thanks, neither of my fruit books mention that.

I did forget to stake it though, so I'd better pop back later and do so! 

Impulse purchases, eh? They also had apple and pear trees and I do fancy a couple of espaliers, but you need other trees for pollination, don't you?

[poultrygeist]

Some are self fertile afaik.

If you don't know varieties, you're a bit stuck. You'd need to see when it blossoms and then match it with a viable variety.

There are some useful charts on the web for pollinating groups.

Rob

[mumofstig]

They are lovely fruit but i hope it's on a dwarfing rootstock otherwise the roots really travel a long way from the stem. Which is a pain if you have veg beds in your garden

[scabs]

Thanks PG, Just been looking up the compatabilities in Carol Klein's Fruit book, looks like Aldi is actually selling the right varieties to pollinate each other!

Mumofstig, it looks to be grafted so I'm hoping it is a dwarf rootstock, though I believe that they can get to quite a size.  Looks like they don't take kindly to hard pruning either... *.

[poultrygeist]

I don't think they'd sell anything other than dwarfing. We have a wild cherry in the hedge and it's about 25ft high and suckering in the lawn about the same distance away.

Good luck with it. I love fruit trees if there's room for them.

Rob

[Rangerkris]

We have an old cherry orchard  at work that is well past its best. i would love to have a crack at getting it into a working orchard again but they just wont let us spend the money on new tree's  i guess we could save some seeds and start own own trees.  Im waiting for the blossoms again its breath taking to see.

[poultrygeist]

You've just volunteered to take photos and post them up Kris 

Or the forum police will track you down and make you pay !!! 

Rob

[scabs]

There's certainly something very attractive about a plant/tree that is both beautiful to look at and productive!

That was the logic I used on my wife when I bought it this afternoon!  

I'm worrying now that it was a foolish thing to buy for my plot...  

[Rangerkris]

You've just volunteered to take photos and post them up Kris 

Or the forum police will track you down and make you pay !!! 

Rob

I will dig out my trusty slr and see what i can get. 

[poultrygeist]

If you shell out on a BIG tub, you may get away with growing it in that but it'll need to be huge.
I think there is a very dwarfing (Pixy?) rootstock that only grows to about 6 or 7ft and presumably the roots are quite tame too.
You could try trenching after a couple of years to keep the roots in check. But they can be quite thirsty too I think so keep it well watered.
I speak as if I know what I'm talking about. We had a small cherry years ago and moved after a year or so. 

Rob

[scabs]

I'll certainly have to keep an eye on it.

Ah well, you live and learn! 

[doubledug]

I have taken over my fathers garden which was full of trees. I felled a few and cut others back much to the relief of the neibours. But the affinity with trees must be in the family genes. I had to plant some more, now there are more than ever.I am also a victim of the aldi fruit tree offer. I now have an apple a pear a cherry and a plum. to add to the existing oak, chestnut and a small birch wood. Perhaps i should move to the country.    

[poultrygeist]

Sounds like you're already in the countryside Doubledug !

Must be lovely to have so many trees to sit under. Must see if we can fit a couple in.

Rob