What can you plant next to cherries?

The cherry tree has become one of the most common crops in garden plots. Its fruits are useful raw (rich in vitamins and minerals), and are also great for freezing, making jams, compotes and juices.

But so that nothing prevents the tree from growing, developing and bearing fruit, you need to know what you can plant next to a cherry. In the article we will tell you why you need to take into account the neighborhood, we will help you figure out what can be planted near cherries, and what is undesirable.

Very often you have to take into account the compatibility of plants, since there is not so much land in the summer cottages, and you want to grow as many different plants and crops as possible. So, first of all, you need to pay attention to the type of soil.

If the soil is not suitable for the plant, it is better not to plant it in such an environment. The next moment is lighting, the yield depends on it. If you want a rich harvest of cherries, do not plant an apple tree near the cherry tree.

Over time, she will simply cover the cherry plantation with a spreading crown and outshine such a neighbor.

The same applies to the root system: the roots of the nearest trees should not touch.... In order not to interfere with each other, choose such neighbors for a cherry crop, whose root mass either goes deeper or vice versa (these are plants with a shallow root system).

People often say that neighbors are not chosen, but this is not attributed to the site that is formed by a competent gardener. He knows for sure that not all plants can tolerate each other. To get rid of unwanted neighborhood, some plants release special substances into the air that negatively affect unwanted neighbors.

That's why, before forming your garden "kingdom", it is advisable to study the compatibility of trees and shrubs... Let us consider in detail what can be planted near a cherry crop.

You can plant quite a lot of plants on the site next to cherries, including fruit trees and shrubs. For example, a wonderful neighborhood can be organized with rowan, hawthorn and other bushes, whose roots will not compete with cherry (will be located higher), and flowers can be planted in the trunk circle.

Let's consider in detail what plants and trees the cherry is "friendly" with.

Cherry, similar in many external features, does not interfere with cherry in any way. Experienced gardeners even recommend planting these crops side by side.

Stone fruits are a good option for cherries. But in this case, as in the examples with apricot and peach, you need to choose low varieties. A tall plum tree - just like an apricot or a peach tree - will simply overshadow the cherry plantation.

Therefore, if you decide to plant a plum in the garden together with a cherry tree, then it should not grow more than 3.5 m. Ideally, cherry plum, a type of plum, is ideal for such a neighborhood. Cherry plum is a bush-like tree, so it does not interfere with cherry in any way.

Elderberry with its specific smell will help scare away pests from cherry plantations, therefore and this neighborhood is considered beneficial to our culture.

There are disputes about honeysuckle (a compact shrub that gives tasty and healthy berries of an oblong shape of blue or plum color), but still, at a distance of one and a half meters, many believe that such a neighborhood is permissible. The main thing is that the cherry does not give root shoots or you need to remove it in a timely manner, then the honeysuckle will feel great in the shade of the cherry orchard.

In general, grapes are a good neighbor for a cherry tree, they will not interfere with the cherry, but they themselves may suffer if they find themselves in the shady part. Therefore, in order to get a good harvest of grapes, it is better to choose dwarf cherry varieties or shrub varieties. In the shade, the grapes do not form bunches.

A lot of things can be planted under the cherry itself, first of all, these are undersized perennial plants that are not afraid of shade. So, if you want to admire beautiful spring flowers, for example: snowdrops, lilies of the valley and primroses, but there is no place in the garden, then feel free to plant them under the cherry.

By the way, lilies of the valley will not only delight the eye, but will also become reliable protection for their "big" neighbor from coccomycosis - this is when reddish spots form on the cherry leaves. And so that the May lily of the valley does not grow, the near-trunk area under the cherry is fenced off - this does not affect the development of the tree.

Violet, lungwort, creeping tenacious, hosts, small periwinkles - these trees will decorate the tree trunk area with a living carpet. At the same time, remember that the roots of the cherry tree do not go very deeply, so do not overdo it with the company.

It is useful to plant mint and lemon balm under cherries: useful not only for humans (to use them in tea and in the preparation of various dishes), but also for the tree itself (this will serve as protection from those pests that are repelled by the mint smell).

An ideal neighbor for a cherry tree is also cherry, of the same or a different variety. Cross-pollinated varieties are recommended to be planted in groups (or at least for a couple) with a single flowering period. For self-pollinating varieties, you can pick up any company of relatives.

Properly selected crops, planted near cherry plantations, will allow you to enjoy beautiful flowering and fragrant, healthy fruits.

Cherry is not considered a whimsical crop, but you should know which crops it will not grow and will not develop as needed. Close to the seed-bearing representatives of the flora, the cherry will not be entirely comfortable, because the apple tree and the pear draw out all the moisture and nutrients from the soil. In addition, this, like a number of stone fruit crops, is quite tall trees.

First of all, planting apple trees, pears, apricots, peaches will negatively affect the development of cherry plantations. Only undersized varieties of the listed fruit trees are allowed near the cherry (and the distance between the seedlings should be solid - at least 6 meters), otherwise they will "drown out" their "neighbor".

Gooseberries also need to be planted at an impressive distance, red and black currants are also planted due to the fact that these fruit shrubs have a powerful root system that will interfere with cherries. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend in this case to abandon the neighborhood with raspberries.

Cherries will also grow poorly next to some garden crops from the nightshade family: tomatoes, eggplants.It is not recommended to plant peppers under or near cherries. These crops are often sick, affected by various diseases, attract slugs, and there is a high risk that diseases and pests will destroy the cherry plantations.

These vegetables are planted away from cherry trees. In addition, for planting them, you need to make holes, and this is dangerous for the root system of the cherry tree. At best, if there is not enough space in the garden and in the garden, under cherry plantations, you can grow parsley, basil, dill and other leafy greens.

You can decorate this part with marigolds, calendula and other flowers, which were mentioned above, but not with tulips, gladioli, lilies.

Walnut is considered a real aggressor for cherry plantations. Culture will definitely not survive next to such a neighbor - and not only because of the dense nut crown, which will not let the cherry tree "breathe". The toxic discharge from the walnut tree is depressing for cherries.

This is exactly the case when one plant (in this case a walnut) releases a specific substance to destroy another tree in the neighborhood. Well, the fittest survives ... but since we are not talking about the wild, but about the formation of the garden, the gardener may well solve this problem in favor of one tree or another.

And if cherry is a priority, then for a walnut you will definitely have to look for another place, away from the cherry orchard. By the way, cherry is a rather profitable "inhabitant" in the summer cottage: it is "friends" with many plants.

In addition, it allows you to create flower beds or a green carpet under your crowns. According to statistics, this tree does not conflict with large crops, and if there is hostility, it comes more from the neighbors than from her. We hope that our article turned out to be useful in organizing the correct neighborhood with a cherry crop, and novice gardeners will not have to experiment.