2 years back when I moved into a new house I planted a late flowring
cherry, it is not doing as well as it might having been badly attacked by
aphids and having to put up with a poor clay soil described by the builders
but no one else as top soil. The extreme and almost continous rain my areas
has had to put up with over the last 2 years hasn't helped.
It was planted in a peat based compost with added sharp sand and was fed
with "Fish Blood and Bone", it is well supported and hasn't been pruned.
I was think of using potash rich feed but is this a good choice and when
should this be applied. ?


I'd suggest that you add the fertilizer in the spring, and consider spraying
with an insecticide if the aphids are really doing that much damage. If the
growth is very poor, consider using a liquid feed and spray it on the leaves
once they have emerged. There are organic and non-organic fertilizers that you
could use. If you want to stay organic you could mulch with some farmyard
manure or home-made compost at any time of year.

Organic fertilizers such as manure tend to break down only when the temperature
is reasonable, which is when plants are growing and need it. During the winter
the fertilizer will just sit there till the spring. Nutrients are released
when the temperature increases and microbes start to act and break down the
compost/manure/etc.

There's a lot to fertilizers, but this is most of what you have to worry about.
If you need any further or more specific advice, just ask. If might be
worthwhile buying a soil testing kit to see if there are any deficiencies,
though I'd doubt it as you say you're on a clay soil.

Dave.