Finding and Buying the Perfect Morello Cherry Tree for Your Yard

Morello cherry trees are a delicious and beautiful addition to any home orchard. Their tart cherries are perfect for baking, jams, and desserts. With the right care and conditions Morello cherry trees can thrive and produce abundant fruit for years to come. But before you plant it’s important to find the right Morello cherry tree for your specific needs. This guide will walk you through what to look for when buying a Morello cherry tree and where to find healthy trees for sale.

What is a Morello Cherry Tree?

Morello cherries are a type of sour pie cherry, which is scientifically called Prunus cerasus. They are an old variety that is thought to have come from northern Italy. Morello cherries were first grown in the village of Morello in Lombardy, which is where they got their name.

These cherries have a deep red color and a distinctive rich, winy, and tart flavor. The fruit is small to medium sized and heart shaped Morello cherries are popular for cooking, canning, juicing, and liqueurs Unlike sweet cherry varieties, they are too tart for most people to enjoy raw.

Morello cherry trees are self-pollinating and productive. The dwarf varieties reach 8-10 feet tall at maturity, making them an ideal size for home orchards Morello cherries are low chill, only requiring 400-500 chill hours This allows them to thrive in warmer climates where other cherries would struggle.

Benefits of Growing Your Own Morello Cherry Tree

There are many great reasons to grow your own Morello cherry tree:

• Lots of fruit that can be baked or canned: A mature Morello tree can give you up to 25 pounds of fruit a year. That way, you can bake as much as you want and put up jars of jam.

• Earlier harvest: Store-bought cherries are often imported from far away. Having a backyard Morello tree allows you to enjoy fresh cherries earlier in the summer.

• Suit your taste: You can pick Morello cherries at their peak of ripeness for ideal flavor. Store-bought cherries are often picked early before full maturity.

• Organic farming: If you grow your own tree, you can decide how to take care of it. You can be sure that the fruit you grow is organic and free of pesticides.

• Pollinator friendly: Cherry blossoms provide early spring food for bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

• Orchard beauty: A Morello cherry tree that flowers and bears fruit is a stunning focal point in any garden or landscape.

What to Look for When Buying a Morello Cherry Tree

When selecting a Morello cherry tree for purchase, here are the key things to look for:

• Reputable nursery: Order trees from a reputable nursery with expertise in fruit trees. Avoid big box stores.

• Tree health: Inspect the tree for signs of disease, damage, or pests. Reject any trees that are in poor condition.

• Root system: The roots should be well developed but not pot bound. Avoid trees with roots circling the container.

• Chill hours: Select a variety suited for your climate’s chill hours. Morello cherries need only 400-500.

• Pollination: Morellos are self-fruitful but planting two varieties can boost pollination.

• Dwarf rootstock: Dwarfing rootstock produces a manageable 8-10 foot tree, ideal for small yards.

• Certified stock: Opt for certified virus-free nursery stock when possible.

Where to Order Healthy Morello Cherry Trees

Two of the best online nurseries for ordering Morello cherry trees are Raintree Nursery and Trees of Antiquity. Here’s an overview:

Raintree Nursery

• Offers English Morello on two size-controlling rootstocks: Gisela 5 (dwarf) and Gisela 3 (mini-dwarf).

• Trees are shipped bareroot in winter while dormant.

• Only sells virus-free certified stock.

• Grower with 40+ years specializing in fruit trees.

• Prices range from $59.99-$64.99 per tree.

Trees of Antiquity

• Sells 1-year old English Morello cherry trees.

• Bare-root trees shipped January-May.

• Family-owned nursery focused on heirloom varieties.

• Offers organic certified trees.

• Trees sell for $49.95 each.

Both nurseries have excellent reputations for sending out vigorous, healthy trees and providing helpful customer service. Ordering online allows you to have trees shipped at the optimal planting time for your region.

Preparing Your Yard Before Planting Your Morello Tree

To give your new Morello cherry tree the best start, it’s important to prepare the planting area properly:

• Sunlight: Morellos need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day, 8 hours is ideal.

• Soil: Cherry trees thrive in deep, loamy soil that is rich in organic matter. Improve poor soils by amending with compost.

• Drainage: Ensure the soil drains well. Avoid low, wet spots. Cherries hate “wet feet”.

• Spacing: Allow at least 10 feet between cherry trees at maturity for good air circulation.

• Support: Install a stake or trellis for the young tree to grow against. This prevents damage from wind.

• Mulch: Spread 2-3 inches of mulch around the base after planting to retain moisture. Avoid touching the trunk.

Caring for Morello Cherry Trees

With the right care after planting, Morello cherry trees will flourish:

• Watering: Water deeply and regularly during the first year. Established trees are quite drought tolerant.

• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer each spring as leaves emerge.

• Pruning: Prune in winter to maintain an open vase shape. Remove inward facing branches.

• Harvesting: Pick cherries when fully colored but still firm. Leave stems on until washing.

• Pest control: Use organic sprays like neem oil to prevent aphids, fungus, and cherry fruit flies.

• Protecting: Cover trees with netting before fruit ripens to keep away birds.

• Chill hours: Ensure the required 400-500 hours under 45°F each winter.

With its cold-hardy nature and modest care needs, Morello cherry trees are an ideal fruit tree for the home grower. The reward of harvesting bucketloads of sweet-tart cherries will make the initial investment worthwhile for years to come.

Adding a Morello cherry tree to your backyard orchard can bring you an abundant harvest of fruit for cooking, canning, or fresh eating. Seek out healthy bareroot trees from reputable nurseries and provide sun, rich soil, and attentive care. In return, Morello cherry trees will grace your garden with spring blooms and summer fruit for decades to come. The tart, ruby cherries are well worth the effort needed to grow your own tree.