Easily care for a Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree right in your own backyard. Discover simple tips and tricks for pruning, fertilizing and watering that will keep your tree looking beautiful.
There is a common belief that if something is immensely beautiful, it will be hard to maintain that.
For example, many people think that the snow fountain weeping cherry tree care will be time-consuming. But, is it?
Well, if you too think the same, you are wrong!
Surprisingly, these cherry blossom trees require low maintenance. So, if you are planning to grow one to enhance your yard’s beauty, you have chosen the right tree.
Their elegant cascading branches full of white flowers can make anyone fall in love. And to help you keep your tree graceful and lovely, I will share every type of information regarding these cherry blossom trees in my today’s writing.
First, let me introduce the tree as you may not know much about it.
How To Maintain Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
It's essential to give your snow fountain weeping cherry tree the attention it deserves. While the tree does not require a lot of attention, a few basic conditions can make a big difference.
After all, it will take years for it to attain its full potential, so you should think about care and protection.
First, let’s talk about the proper watering process.
Water Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree 2 -3 Times A Week In Summer
During the early growing period, the snow fountain doesn’t do well in dry environments. If it doesn’t receive enough water, you won’t have the expected blooming.
If you reside in a zone with low rainfalls, you need to water it throughout the flourishing season.
I recommend watering the tree two or three times a week in summer or during prolonged hot periods.
However, remember to let the soil dry out between to avoid the onset of root rot.
One easy way to tell when it needs the water is by simply checking the top of the soil layer. If it’s dry, then it’s the perfect time to pour water.
And minimize the watering when it rains.
If you’re planting your tree in sandy soil, make sure to use nutrients that assist the tree in retaining moisture after watering while still allowing appropriate drainage to the roots.
Don’t water the tree during the winter season and let the roots rest. At this time, the weeping fountain cherry goes into hibernation to recover from the strains of the growing season.
So, if you water your tree during this time, it will modify its growth habits and may not produce blossoms the next season.
Use Slow-releasing Granular-type Fertilizer For Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
It’s suggested to give young cherry trees at least three months to recover from the transplant shock to the roots after planting.
Therefore, feeding the plant during this time could result in a burn.
Once the roots establish, you may start feeding your snow fountain weeping tree in the early springtime to boost its growth. It’s best to use slow-releasing granular-type fertilizer.
If the soil is normally deficient, apply an all-around, uniformly fortified (10-10-10) fertilizer once a year.
Spread the fertilizer around 6 to 8 inches away from the base. And when the buds start to appear on the tree, increase the fertilizing range beyond the drip line to encourage new growth in the roots.
By the way, besides fertilizing, mulching is also necessary.
Use Organic Compost For Mulching Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
During the growing season, mulch around the base of the tree.
For the best results, use high-quality, organic compost. Mulch aids in the release of nutrients into the soil as well as the prevention of evaporation after watering.
Moreover, mulching is a good fertilizer approach for preventing weed growth and keeping pests at bay.
Prune Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree In Late Spring
If you leave your snow fountain weeping cherry tree on its own, it will grow into a disorderly form.
And pruning your tree will help you to keep it attractive while maintaining its shape and style.
Your fountain cherry will begin to establish itself correctly in the garden after a few years, and all of your trimmings will result in a nicely manicured tree, enhancing the beauty of your yard.
The best time to prune the snow fountain is later in spring, when the flowering ends.
Avoid pruning in late winter because sap may ooze from the cut wounds, and prune no later than mid-summer because you want the new growth to mature before the first fall frosts.
Now, follow the below instructions on how to prune.
- Look at the top of the tree and see whether there are any branches that are growing straight up. Trim these erect, non-weeping branches 1/4 inch above their point of attachment to a lower branch that weeps and forms the tree's top if you want to keep the tree at the same overall height.
Note: In case you want a taller weeping tree, then let the upright branches grow. They will naturally bend and weep over the next 2/3 years.
- Look for any dead, diseased, or injured branches on the tree and trim them out. Dead branches are dry and brittle during the growth season, with no foliage or blossoms. Broken branches and those that rub against each other and wear away the bark should be removed.
- Take a step back and observe the canopy's general consistency and shape. Remove any stray branches to keep the tree balanced.
- If a side is unusually "heavy" or dense with branches, consider removing some of them, since they may be shading each other from light and preventing wind from freely passing through the tree's canopy.
- Remove any leafy stem growths from the cherry tree's trunk. Do not cut off the graft union, where the weeping Snow Fountains plant is fused to the trunk of the rootstock cherry tree, or harm the tree's trunk.
Remove Suckers If Any
Any type of weeping cherry tree commonly has "suckers" that shoot up from the base of the trunk in the early spring.
If you don’t remove the suckers, they will eventually take over the tree, preventing the branches and foliage from weeping.
A graft scar can be seen at the top of the rootstock below the branches. If any shoots emerge from the graft scar, get rid of all of these shoots.
Make sure you start pruning as soon as the shoots start to develop. The longer you wait to prune, the more energy the plant devotes to sprout growth.
So, as soon as you see any suckers, remove them.
Make Sure There's Enough Air Circulation For The Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
Since weeping snow fountain trees aren’t immune to diseases and pests, you need to provide them with a place with good air circulation.
Just look at the video below, where the tree is planted in a place that has enough airflow.
The tree's worst enemy is bacterial canker. Blooms and foliage can be destroyed by leaf spots and brown rot blossom blight.
The disease will be reduced if the soil is well-drained. Caterpillars, aphids, and scales can all be controlled using pest management.
I will talk about pests and diseases in detail in the next section.
Inspect Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree Regularly For Pests
Flowering cherry trees may face different problems, and one of them is insects.
Common pests that are found in snow fountains include aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. These insects can destroy the beauty of your dear cherry tree.
So, you need to examine the flowers and leaves periodically for any pests. If you find any, remove them as early as possible with insecticide, predator bugs, or by pruning the branches where they have nested.
Keep in mind that fertilizing your cherry blossom tree and controlling the soil dryness will raise a healthy tree, making it less appealing to various pests.
Monitor for And Treat Diseases
While speaking about the diseases, just like other cherry cultivars, snow fountains can suffer from various types of illnesses like bacterial and fungal canker infections.
Now before treatment, you have to identify the disease first.
Bacterial Canker:
This disease is caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, which causes rough-textured cankers with uneven edges to grow on branches, resulting in branch dieback.
The cankers secrete a sour-smelling sap, and the snow fountain cherry tree's inner bark turns brown and stinky.
Spots may appear on the leaves. Pseudomonas syringae thrive on young trees and those that are sick or stressed. Infestations of ring nematodes can make the snow fountain cherry tree more susceptible to canker disease.
Splashing rain spreads the infection, which is most likely to strike in the spring.
Cytospora Canker:
The fungus cytospora leucostoma can infect all species of cherry trees, including snow fountain.
Look for wilted leaves and weak branches. Cankers appear only on the bark and are dark in color with a sunken core and little pimply bumps (pycnidia) along the edges.
Pycnidia are black at first, then they turn white and can release brownish-yellow spore tendrils. The branch will die if the canker encircles it. Summertime makes the damage more obvious, but the sickness has significantly spread by then.
Splashing water, such as from overhead irrigation or heavy rain, can also spread cytospora cankers. The spores might be carried by the wind or by shothole borer beetles. Then spores enter the tree through wounds in the bark.
The stressed trees are more likely to be attacked by it.
Powdery Mildew:
It’s a fungus that appears as a white powder on the leaves and blossoms of the tree. The damaged branch's growth may be stunted, and the leaves may fall off early.
Now, after monitoring, you have to treat the diseases.
Different Treatments For Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
Although there is no chemical treatment for cytospora cankers, you can control pseudomonas syringae cankers with bactericides containing fixed copper. Follow the product's instructions for application amounts and time.
Remove all infected branches and limbs for both types of canker infections. If possible, make the cuts at least 2 to 4 inches below the canker to ensure that the entire affected region is eliminated.
Clean up plant debris and cuttings by taking them away from your garden. Then destroy those infected waste by burning, in case it’s allowed in your area, or you may bury them deeply. This is highly important to do because if the diseased plant cuts are around your tree, it can be infected again from those.
Additionally, disinfect the cutting tools while cutting the branch of the same tree and different trees.
Well, as I own different types of cherry blossom trees, including snow fountains, I can say that preventing diseases is the best way.
Hence, go through the following section to know the prevention measure.
Water Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree At The Bottom Instead Of Using Sprinklers
Prevention is better than cure. And I think you too agree with this.
So, to maintain your tree’s better health, closely follow my water, fertilization, and air circulation method.
Now I want to include some more tips on caring that will help prevent diseases.
Instead of using a sprinkler that wets the leaves, water the snow fountain cherry tree on the bottom, or spray early in the day. In that way, the foliage will have time to dry.
Soil Around the Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree Should Have Sufficient Drainage
Since bacteria and fungi travel through water, make sure the soil around the tree has sufficient drainage so that water from irrigation or heavy rainfall does not sit in a pool for longer than an hour or two.
To avoid wounds in the tree's bark, keep the area around it weed-free and treat insect and worm infestations early. When mowing or using other gardening tools, avoid harming the tree.
Well, doing as per I say will minimize the chance of your tree getting any disease.
By far, I have talked about the snow fountain tree care. However, the proper way of plantation and growing plays a major role in a tree's health.
How to Grow Snow Fountain Cherry Blossom Tree
First of all, you have to fulfill the tree’s pre-planting requirements.
Location And Soil Requirements For Growing Snow Fountain Cherry Blossom Tree
As mentioned before, the snow fountain weeping tree prefers moist, well-draining soil. It’s able to grow in any type of soil, including chalk, clay, and sand, with any ph level.
Don’t fertilize the soil in the planting area as it encourages the roots to stay in the hole.
Choose a spot that receives constant sunlight. The snow fountain cherry tree can also withstand a little shade.
So before planting, make sure you choose a place with all of these characteristics.
Best Time to Plant Snow Fountain Cherry Blossom Tree Is Late Spring/Ear Summer
Young cherry blossom trees are sensitive to weather changes. That’s why planting them during harsher weather can be devastating.
So, it is best to plant snow-fountain weeping cherry trees during late spring or early summer.
Learn How to Plant A Snow Fountain Cherry Tree
Follow the below instructions step by step for planting your snow fountain.
Step 1:
Take the tree out of the package or container it came in. Examine the exposed roots and use hand pruners to remove any that are dead or damaged. Remove any tags from the branches.
Cover the root ball with pieces of burlap or an old blanket and place the tree in the shade. Soak the blanket in water until it is completely saturated. The roots will not dry out as a result of this.
Step 2:
Take a shovel, and dig a hole only as deep as the root ball but twice as wide. Then scrape the sides of the hole with the shovel's edge to prevent compacted soil from trapping the roots inside. Make a tiny mound of soil in the hole's bottom.
Step 3:
Run your fingers through the outside roots of the cherry tree to loosen the root ball. After placing the root ball on top of the mound, spread the roots along the sides.
You can modify the tree's height by removing or adding soil to the mound. The top part of the root ball should be level with the ground when you plant it.
And then fill the space around the root ball with soil.
Step 4:
Thoroughly water the soil around the tree. To mud the tree in and release trapped air pockets, wiggle it back and forth a little. If the soil level sinks as it settles, you may add more soil to the hole.
As mentioned before, the snow fountain cherry tree requires weekly watering during the first year after planting. Hence, soak the soil, then let it dry before watering it again.
Step 5:
Place a robust wooden stake 6 to 12 inches from the trunk in the ground near the root ball, then bind the tree to the stake with string or twine. Keep the stake for a minimum of two years.
Note: After you are done with planting, you may apply a 3 to 5-inch layer of mulch around the tree. But don’t let it touch the bark. Also, don’t provide any fertilizer until the next spring. For further stability when the tree grows taller, tie it to the stake.
General Info On Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree
Snow Fountain is also known as Snofozam Tree. It’s a deciduous tree of weeping habits with long, artistically cascading branches touching the ground. During the spring season, the tree gets covered with its showy, beautiful white blooms.
Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, this cherry blossom tree is a member of the Rosaceae family and the genus Prunus.
Lake County Nursery in Perry, Ohio, introduced Snofozam cherry trees in 1985. They are occasionally listed as a P. x yedoensis or P. subhirtella cultivar.
Since it’s a small and compact tree, the snow fountain cherry tree only grows about 8 to 15 ft height with 6 to 8 ft spread.
The leaves of the tree are alternating and dark green in color, which becomes beautiful shades of gold and orange in the autumn.
The tree blooms in the spring, as previously stated. Blossoming is followed by the production of small, crimson (then turns to black) inedible fruit.
This tree will stand out even in winter, especially in areas where snow falls. The bare branches will catch the little snowballs, providing almost the same visual as flowering times.
Its weeping nature makes it especially beautiful in a Japanese-style garden or nearby a reflecting pond. The weeping habit drops down to the ground while in bloom, giving the tree the impression of a snow fountain, just what its name indicates.
Snofozam also comes in a low-growing variant that can be used as a ground cover or grown to cascade over walls.
If you consider growing this ornamental cherry tree, there is some basic information you have to know beforehand.
And that’s what I am gonna provide in my next segment.
Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Trees Necessary Information
The following table contains the requirements, characteristics, and other essential details of this cherry blossom tree.
- Botanical Name: Prunus x 'Snofozam'
- Hardiness: 5 to 8
- Heat Zones: 6 to 8
- Mature Height: 8 to 15 ft
- Mature Spread: 6 to 8 ft
- Growth Rate: Medium, approximately one foot per year
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Clay, chalk, loam, sand
- Soil Drainage: Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH: Acid, alkaline, neutral
- Water Needs: Average
- Characteristics: Showy
- Flower Color: White
- Blooming Time: Mis spring
- Duration of Bloom: About 3 weeks
- Foliage Color: Green
- Fall Color of Foliage: Orange, red
- Attracts: Birds, butterflies
- Pollinator Friendly: Yes
- Lifespan: About 10 to 20 years
Now that you know the fundamental facts, it’s time to learn about weeping snow fountain cherry tree care-related details.
Well, that’s all I have to say regarding today’s topic. Let’s conclude it here.
Conclusion
By now, you have a complete guideline on snow fountain weeping cherry tree care as well as their growth requirements and planting instruction.
Just follow all of my tips, and hopefully, your tree will never face any problem and will keep thriving year after year.
It’s time for us to be apart. I hope to see you soon through another writing. Till then, have a great time.
