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Old 26-05-2011, 04:27 AM posted to alt.home.repair,alt.home.lawn.garden
Sonny Sonny is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: May 2011
Posts: 8
Default Drainage for cherry tree!

"Wild" black cherry or marble size "domestic" cherry?

If the tree is next to a down slope, you should have no problem. If
your soil is compacted clay, then amend the soil with compost about
12' in diameter, maybe 1' deep, around the tree. If the tree is
small, you don't have to compost the whole area now, just about a foot
or so beyond the root spread, then compost further out each year or
when it's convenient. Concentrate the composting to the down hill
slope.

Poor drainage of fruit trees, especially smaller trees like (more
noticeable on) plum, peach and the like, disallows the bark to be
sloughed off each year. Each year the bark needs to slough itself
off, though you may not notice it. If the bark isn't sloughed off, a
lichen/algae symbiotic growth developes on the exterior and this,
alone, could eventually kill the tree. Poor drainage disallows the
roots to breathe properly, also, causing poor or stunted growth, i.e.,
an unhealthy tree, which is more susceptible to disease and/or bug
infestation, repair (of itself) of broken limbs, scarred bark, etc.,
i.e., natural or man-made trauma type physical damage.

If the compacted soil in your immediate area is something other than
compacted clay (landfill), then the landfill soil may be suspect to
having lime added to it during the construction of the building, so
that the soil would hold up/support the foundation properly. Might
have the treated (limed) soil well beyond the building edge... out to
the slope (drop off).

Sonny