Bird cherry
Bird cherry is a small tree, belongs to the genus plum. Widely distributed throughout Russia, it can be found in forests and thickets. Since ancient times, people have been cultivating this tree. Thanks to the breeders, many varieties of bird cherry appeared, as well as hybrids crossed with cherries.
Bird cherry fruits are very useful, they contain antioxidants, tannins, sugar and acids. The leaves are also used as an additive to tea - they are rich in ascorbic acid, and the tree itself emits special substances that fight ticks and mosquitoes and disinfect the air.
Bird cherry is used as an element of decor, decorating alleys, parks, using in landscape compositions, as a hedge, as an independent element, as well as small groves, consisting of different varieties.
DThere are several ways to grow bird cherry: planting seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting and root suckers.
The most reliable is seed reproduction. They start planting in the fall, you will need a high-quality bone (you can put it in a glass if it sinks - the bone is suitable for germination), then place it in wet sand or moss, wait for germination.
To harden the seeds, the container with them is taken out into the cold, in the spring the seedlings are planted in the ground, around May. In three years the tree grows, and in the fifth year the tree bears fruit.
If you want a breeder, then grafting is your way.... To obtain the results, a standard variety of bird cherry is taken and a selection scion is grafted onto it. If you take and grow a tree from an elite seed, it will be ordinary in its own way.
Top dressing of seedlings and trees consists in mineralization, the most important thing is not to overdo it with them. Give strictly according to the instructions, otherwise you can get the branches drying out. Also, do not allow an excess of moisture for the tree, a large amount of water can darken the wood.
For bird cherry, it is extremely important to loosen the soil; it is also necessary to feed the roots with nitrogen fertilizers. Level and trim the crown, focusing on the general appearance of the tree. To get a good harvest, it is better to plant different varieties, since the tree is cross-pollinated.
Bird cherry is susceptible to diseases and pests: fungi, spotting, aphids, weevils, miner moths, gypsy moths, etc. It is necessary to spray the tree before flowering, as well as after harvesting, be sure to monitor soil moisture and loosening of the root area.
The following types of bird cherry are widespread: bird cherry, Maaka bird cherry, late bird cherry, siori bird cherry.