Okame Cherry Tree

1. Planting: Choose a location with well-drained soil and full to partial sunlight (at least 4 hours of sunlight daily).

Dig your hole just as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. Leave a small mound of dirt in the center of the hole to set the root ball on and carefully spread the roots in the hole. Place your tree, backfill the soil, and water to settle the roots. Ensure that your tree's crown isn't covered by soil...only its root ball should be covered.

Finally, mulch the surrounding soil to conserve moisture.

2. Watering: Water your Okame when the top 2 inches of soil dries (a slow trickle with a garden hose for about 10 to 15 minutes is recommended).

3. Fertilizing: After the first two years of growth, fertilize the tree with nitrogen. Apply 1/10 pound of actual nitrogen per year for each year of the tree’s age, with a maximum of 1 pound per year. Apply once in the spring, or spread the nitrogen amount into 2 to 4 equal applications over the spring and summer seasons.

4. Pruning: Remove the current year’s old, faded flowers and fruit clusters to promote flower buds for the following season. Prune away any dead or damaged branches in winter.