Nanking cherry, Prunus tomentosa, is a native plant to central Asia. This is a wonderful shrub for mass plantings or as a hedge. It is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 7. The county conservation district has this shrub listed as a hardy plant to grow in windbreaks, living snow fences, or wildlife habitat in southern South Dakota.
Nanking cherry shrubs have a medium growth rate, which means it can average 13 to 24 inches each year. So, it doesn’t take them too many years to grow their mature height of 6 to 10 feet with a 15-foot spread.
Nanking cherry shrubs have multiple stems. The red bark provides a visual interest. The green leaves feel fuzzy or furry on the underside. In the spring, around the month of March, this shrub has fragrant white or pink flowers that form on last year’s growth. The flowers fade and if you have several Nanking cherry shrubs growing, scarlet red fruit will set on in late May to early June. The Nanking cherry shrub is not self-pollinating. If you want your shrub to produce fruit, you need to plant several of these shrubs .
Nanking cherry shrubs are cold, heat and drought tolerant and they grow in a wide range of soils. This shrub offers home and shelter to birds and other small animals. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flower. Songbirds eat the fruits and people often use them to make jams, jelly, or wine. The flavor of the berries, depends on the variety. Some taste like tart cherries, while others have a sweet cherry flavor.
Rabbits, mice, and deer can cause considerable damage, so you may need to put up a fence. Chicken wire works well in keeping the trees safe. These animals will eat the bark during the winter months when food is scarce.
Find a location that has full sun exposure. If you can find an area that has a cool northern exposure, plant it there. This keeps the shrubs from flowering too early so if your area has a late spring frost, the flower buds won’t be damaged.
It is a good idea to prepare the ground where you want to plant the shrubs before the shrubs arrive. Usually bare-root shrubs are shipped in the spring, so work the soil in the fall. This gives the soil time to settle and you don’t have all the work to accomplish when the bare-root shrubs arrive. If you are planting Nanking cherry shrubs as a windbreak, use a plow or disk. Remove the weeds, grass growing in the area and then til, or plow the soil to loosen it. If you decide to spray the ground with an herbicide, do so with caution and follow label directions. Most endanger your health, along with other animals in the environment. They are not selective, as they will kill any plants that it comes in contact.
Prepare the Shrubs for Planting
When the Nanking cherry shrubs arrive, plant them right away. If you need to wait, store them in a cool, shady location that offers wind protection. The basement or cellar is a good place because the temperature stays around 33° to 35° Fahrenheit with a 95% humidity rate. Do not unpack them until you are ready to plant.
Fill 5-gallon buckets or a galvanized water trough with about 12 inches of water. You only want the water covering the root section. Place the shrub’s roots in the water. Only the root section should be under water. Leave them to soak at least one hour, but no longer than 24 hours. If you soak them that long, the roots will drown from lack of oxygen. While the roots are soaking, it is time to dig the holes.You can also dig the holes the day before to save yourself some work. If the hedge is in an area where people walk, put up a wire or something to keep someone from stumbling.
Dig the planting hole or holes 2 feet wider than the root system. Scuff the sides and bottom of the planting hole so the hard soil walls aren’t hindering the roots. The depth of the planting hole should be slightly deeper than the root section. Space the holes 15 feet apart, unless you are growing them as a hedge. In that case, you’ll want to space them 4 to 5 feet apart, depending on how dense you want your hedge or windbreak to be.
When my dad planted our hedge, he filled the holes with water before he planted them. This ensures that moisture goes deep into the soil. When the water has drained away, you can start planting.
Planting the Shrubs
Remove one shrub from the bucket and immediately position it in the hole. The shorter the time that you leave the roots exposed to the open air, the better the chances of your shrub living. This is a good time to enlist the help of a family member, or a friend.
Before you fill in the hole, check that the root collar is at or slightly below the soil line. The root collar is a darker area located just above the root section.
While one person holds the tree in the center of the hole, the other person can bury the root section. Tamp the soil in place with your hands or feet to remove air pockets.
Watering
Water the shrub thoroughly. This will further collapse the air pockets in the soil and give the roots more moisture. After you finish watering, check the shrub. If the soil settles too far,and exposes the roots, add more soil. If the Nanking Cherry shrub sinks deeper into the soil, gently pull it upward while the soil is wet, so you don’t damage the roots.
Unless your area has rainfall, water once a week for the first summer to ensure the best survival rates. Allow the soil to dry out between each watering, so the roots will go deep into the soil.
Mulch
Place a 2 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch over the ground. Keep the mulch 1.5 to 2 inches away from the trunk of the shrub. When mulch is placed against the stems, the bark remains wet. This increases the shrubs risk of disease and pests. Mulch helps to retain moisture content and reduces the chance of weeds growing.
Harvest the Fruit
The sweet/tart cherries may be eaten right off the tree, used in jelly, syrup, juice or wine. Although they can remain on the shrub for 2 to 3 weeks after they ripen, you may not want to wait because wildlife loves to eat the cherries as much as people do.
