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How Often To Water Cherry Trees?
Water young cherry trees once a week and mature trees every 1 to 2 weeks in dry spells. Learn how to time water so the cherries do not crack.
Water young cherry trees deeply once a week for their first 2 to 3 years. Mature trees need a deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks in dry weather, about 1 inch of water a week in total. Keep watering steady as fruit ripens, because sudden heavy water near harvest makes cherries crack.
A starting point, not a rule. Check the soil before each watering and stretch the gap in cool, cloudy weather.
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Sweet cherries are one of the hardest fruits to grow well, and water is a big part of the reason. Too little and the fruit stays small. Too much at the wrong moment and it splits open on the branch.
Cherry trees, both sweet and tart kinds, want deep, steady water and soil that drains fast. Their roots rot easily in wet ground. Your job is to water deeply on a regular rhythm, and avoid big swings, especially as the fruit ripens.
Cherry tree watering schedule
| Tree age or stage | How often |
|---|---|
| First month after planting | 2 to 3 times a week |
| Years 1 to 3 | Once a week |
| Mature, spring | Every 2 weeks without rain |
| Mature, fruit ripening | Every 7 to 10 days, steady amounts |
| After harvest, summer | Every 1 to 2 weeks in dry spells |
Rain counts. In a wet spring, a mature cherry tree may need no extra water until summer.
How to tell when a cherry tree needs water
Dig 6 to 8 inches down with a trowel near the edge of the branches. If the soil is dry and crumbly, water. If it is cool and holds together, wait.
Thirsty trees show drooping or curling leaves, early yellowing and fruit that stops growing. In young trees, new shoots stay short.
How to water a cherry tree
- Use a slow trickle. A hose on low or a soaker hose ring for 30 to 60 minutes lets water sink deep.
- Water the root zone. Aim for the ring under the outer branches, not right against the trunk.
- Soak about 12 inches deep. Check with a long screwdriver after watering. It should slide in easily.
- Mulch well. Two to three inches of mulch keeps moisture even, which helps prevent cracking.
Signs of overwatering and underwatering
Too much water
- Yellow leaves that drop in summer
- Sap oozing from the trunk
- Soft, split or bland fruit
- Water pooling around the base
Too little water
- Curled, drooping leaves
- Small, firm cherries
- Fruit dropping before it ripens
- Weak shoots and early leaf fall
Fruit cherries and flowering cherries
The trees grown for fruit and the ornamental trees grown for spring blossoms are close relatives. They share a dislike of wet roots and a need for steady water while young. The difference is the fruit. Fruiting trees need extra care in the weeks the cherries swell and ripen.
If yours is grown for flowers, see our guide to cherry blossom trees. For other fruit, our fruit trees guide covers the basics.
Cherry Trees watering FAQ
How much water does a cherry tree need?
Young trees need about 5 to 10 gallons a week. Mature trees need about 1 inch of water a week in dry weather, given as a deep soak.
Why are my cherries splitting?
Usually from rain or a big watering after dry weather, right as the fruit ripens. Steady watering helps, but heavy rain can still cause some cracking.
Can you overwater a cherry tree?
Yes. Cherry roots are prone to rot in soggy soil. Let the top few inches dry before watering again.
We turn horticulture research and real growing experience into plain-English watering schedules you can actually follow.