How to Water Cherry Trees & Apple Trees

A backyard fruit tree can be an ornamental addition to a landscape as well as a shade giver and source of fresh produce. Cherry trees and apple trees are common choices for backyard fruit trees and are available at most nurseries. The watering requirements for either tree vary. For best growing results, gardeners should take into account the individual watering needs of these fruit trees to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Watering hose or can

Shovel

Mulch

Pour water around the base of the cherry tree until the ground is thoroughly soaked. Cherry trees prefer moist growing conditions and thrive when given sufficient water, especially when they're producing fruit.

Pile 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the cherry tree. Mulch conserves water and helps prevent moisture loss from wind evaporation and the sunlight. Use compost, commercial mulching product from a garden store, or dried grass or hay.

Use a shovel and probe the soil next to the cherry tree to a depth of 3 inches. Insert your finger. Rewater the cherry tree when the soil at this depth feels dry to the touch. Track how long it takes for the soil to dry out to determine how often you must water.

Avoid watering too often. Though cherries prefer moist soil, a failure to allow the dirt to naturally dry out between watering sessions may provoke root rot and kill the tree.

Pile a 3- to 4-inch-tall dirt berm around the base of the apple tree. The radius of the berm should be 2 to 3 feet from the apple tree's base.

Pour water into the berm and fill it. Repeat every three to four days during the apple tree's first year as the tree becomes established. If the tree is already established, skip to Step 3.

Water the apple tree more infrequently after it has been growing for a year and has become established. Unlike cherry trees, apple trees thrive in slightly arid conditions. During your area's natural dry season, water once every seven days. During the rest of the year, watering sessions can be spaced three to four weeks apart.

Monitor the apple tree, as your climate may require you to water the apple tree more frequently or infrequently. Increase the time between watering sessions by one day every session and observe the tree's health. For example, start watering once every seven days, then once every eight days. If the tree continues to thrive, continue increasing the interval time. Conversely, decrease the intervals by a day if the apple tree begins to exhibit signs of dehydration, such as wilted leaves. Over time, you will get a general idea of how often you should water the apple tree in your climate.

In general, cherry trees need constant watering to keep the soil moist, whereas apple trees do best if they go for extended periods without water.