- A brief review of the ways in which fertilizers differ from one another is essential to choosing the right one for your cherry trees. Printed conspicuously on any bag of fertilizer you buy will be three numbers, the fertilizer's "NPK rating." Differing ratios of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are what give different fertilizers their myriad nutritional benefits, so gardeners used NPK ratings primarily to know what fertilizer they need for which situations.
- Unless invasive weeds are a problem in your area, cherries shouldn't require any fertilizer immediately after planting. As the tree begins to bear fruit, one ounce of complete fertilizer with an NPK rating of 12-16-12 or similar ratio per square yard benefits cherry tree yield. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as a high level of nitrogen in soil is believed to contribute to infection by brown rot, a potentially destructive disease of cherry trees.
- In addition to the general guidelines discussed, growers should monitor their cherry trees for signs that they may need additional fertilization to produce the highest possible fruit yield. The terminal growth on each branch should be 6 to 15 inches long. If leaves are abundant and fruit yields are poor, or if cherry tree foliage retains its green color well into the fall, these are signs that the tree may need an addition of pure nitrogen fertilizer or pure potassium fertilizer combined with a 15-0-15 or 12-12-12 fertilizer.
- The above are generalized guidelines for fertilizing cherry trees, but just as is the case with any other fruit trees, fertilizer choices should be made primarily in response to soil tests that indicate what nutrients your soil is lacking the most. Soil tests can be procured from local university extension offices (usually for free). Purchase a fertilizer that adjusts your soil nutrient levels closer to the ideal, and watch your cherry fruit yields increase from there.
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