Black Cherry Trees

[woodsteach]

I would like to start growing some Cherry trees, for wood not the fruits.  I talked to my state forester and he had no Idea how to get started.  He said to start walnuts and oaks by picking up the seeds(nuts) and broadcasting them over disked ground.  I'd like to inclued cherrys with this. 

Do you think that if I find some cherrys close that the birds didn't get to that just harvesting the seeds and braodcasting them would work?

I'm 35 and realize that I might not get much wood from these trees but my daughters should get some benefit, if I get started this year.

Thanks

woodsteach

[SwampDonkey]

Pick some when the fruit is ripe, remove the flesh, allow to dry and store them in the fridge until fall, then outplant them in your seed bed. Don't collect them and leave them in the heat, or they'll probably die/mold (seed embyro). Birds are pretty good seed planters and they get ejected with a little packet of fertilizer. I've fed young cedar waxwings some pin cherries and they passed right through as fast as they could eat'm. :D :D :D

[woodsteach]

Thanks SD, I'll give that a try this year if I get to the cherries before the birds. 

woodsteach

[Timburr]

Rather than broadcast them over disked ground, they would stand a better chance in a nursery seedbed, as SwampDonkey suggests.  You have better control over them and they would be at less mercy from the hungry mouths of rodents, etc.

Our cherry has an 18 month dormancy period, unless bird voided. Then it will germinate the following spring. I don't know if your cherry is similar.

You should have got them started last year :D ;D :D

Tim

[DanG]

From the look of the fencerows around here, you could just build a temporary fence where you want a row of cherry trees, then take it down when the season is over. ;D :D :D

[SwampDonkey]

All the old abandoned orchards, pastures and line fences here have black cherry. But, our cherry is mostly garbage except short sections.

[woodsteach]

Thanks for all the replies.  DanG I like the idea of a fence line 8), would that be the best way to get them to grow straight? 

What would the best spacing be to get good sawlogs?

Woodsteach

[SwampDonkey]

If a fellow had a small young planting of sugar maples or oaks all spaced good, they'de do well in it I would think. Keep the crowns of the other hardwood from touching the cherry as it grows, they're not as tolerant to shade. Growing them out in the open will get you a good bunch of apple tree/shade trees. ;)