Gardeners are puzzled as to why the cherry tree often gets sick and produces a mediocre harvest, which only makes the neighbors laugh.
Sometimes the problem is not in poor care, but in the plants that surround the tree. One of these crops can have a detrimental effect on the development of the cherry.
Apple
Both crops suffer from moniliosis, a fungal disease that can destroy the entire crop. The spores reach healthy plants on the wind or are carried by insects.
Close proximity only increases the chances that one tree will cause infection of the other. The probability is significantly reduced if the apple and cherry trees grow at a decent distance.
Coniferous plants
Thuja and juniper are popular ornamental plants that are often planted among fruit trees. However, cherry and conifers do not get along well. Thuja and juniper, like other conifers, prefer acidic soil.
In such soil, calcium, which is very important for stone fruits, is poorly absorbed. As a result, it will not be possible to simultaneously create ideal conditions for conifers and cherries.
Spreading trees
Cherry is a sun-loving tree. If taller crops grow nearby, the plant will experience a lack of light, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
"Toxic" plants
There is a list of plants that almost never get along with anyone. Walnut, barberry, apricot are on this list. Their roots emit substances that are toxic to other plants. If a cherry tree grows next to them, its development will slow down and its yield will decrease.
Nightshades and strawberries
Nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants) and strawberries suffer from a dangerous disease - verticillium wilt. It is difficult to cure the disease. The pathogen spreads in the soil, so the further the cherry grows from these crops, the less likely it is to be affected by wilt.
