Q. I have two cherry trees and one needs to pollinate the
other. Can I plant both trees in the same hole so save space? The trees grow to 20 feet and I will keep
them pruned to a smaller size.
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| Sweet cherries produced at the Orchard. Production is erratic in the Las Vegas Valley. |
A. Yes, you can. Plant them about 18 inches apart, one on
the east side and one on the west side of the hole. Try to pick varieties that
are similar in vigor (how strong they grow) and on the same variety of
rootstock.
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| Multiple apple trees planted in a single hole at Dave Wilson Nursery |
I will warn
you that sweet cherries are squirrely in our hot desert environment. They
produce cherries in some microenvironments and not in others. They usually seem
to do better in backyards that are somewhat protected (no strong winds) and
have a more humid environment during pollination.
If you
plant these two trees together, keep them occupying only half of the canopy. Do
not let them compete with each other but keep them occupy their own, separate
spaces. This means there will be a clear physical separation between the plants
in their own half circle of canopy space. Also, do not let one get bigger than
the other. Keep them pruned to a similar size.
These
cherries must also bloom at the same time if they are to pollinate one another.
Check your pollination charts to make sure they are compatible.
