'Chocolate Ice' Cherry Blossom Tree | Prunus 'Matsumae-fuki'

May need protection from caterpillars and leaf-mining moths. Cherry trees are sometimes affected by silver leaf, bacterial canker or blossom wilt - you can prevent these infections by spacing trees apart well and maintaining good airflow through the branches by pruning out any that cross over.

Water in thoroughly when planting. For bare root trees, you won't need to water regularly, only in dry spells when needed. You should be able to tell because the leaves will start to wilt and droop. If a container grown tree, it will need more watering until its roots are established. It should be watered every other day or so for the first few months. Then reduce to twice a week until autumn. In the second year it should have an established enough root system to support itself, just water when required as explained above for bare roots. When watering a tree it is important to give a good soaking. It is better to water heavily and less frequently than little and often as this encourages the roots to grow down into the ground.

This cherry tree loves full sun exposure or a sheltered location, allowing all the nutrients to create blossom in your garden. Choosing a spot away from strong winds will help all the tree's resources to go towards growing and maintaining the blossom.

Adapts to clay, loam and sandy soil, but avoid chalk soils.

This tree gets all the nutrients it needs from the soil. To give it a boost when newly planted, mix in some compost or well rotted manure and use an organic mulch around the tree to help with moisture retention and keep weeds down.