Gransnet forums

Gardening

I’m so sick of our flowering cherry tree!

(91 Posts)
kittylester Sun 20-Apr-25 12:47:50

As Jaxjacky said - we love the one in our neighbours garden.

We too have seen them in Japan and they are gorgeous.

We have a crab apple which does something every season.

Silverbrooks Sun 20-Apr-25 12:36:55

Mollygo

We have a Forsythia. 2 to 3 weeks of glorious yellow blossom and then just green leaves, but I like it anyway.
The point about the pollen, or food for the insects is important. I wasn’t terribly impressed though when I noticed my DGS had carefully mowed around the dandelions on the lawn yesterday, but he did explain it was for the bees.

I digress but is it my imagination of have early yellow flowering shrubs been especially magnificent this year? Forsythia, Kerria Japonica and Mahonia Aquifolium have all been glorious, the latter covered in bees.

Ten more days and we'll be into NoMowMay and even JustLeaveItJune so the bugs get an extra boost of food.

yogitree Sun 20-Apr-25 12:35:36

Mollygo

We have a Forsythia. 2 to 3 weeks of glorious yellow blossom and then just green leaves, but I like it anyway.
The point about the pollen, or food for the insects is important. I wasn’t terribly impressed though when I noticed my DGS had carefully mowed around the dandelions on the lawn yesterday, but he did explain it was for the bees.

This made me happy-laugh!

Rosie51 Sun 20-Apr-25 12:27:28

I hate the enormous wild cherry tree in the bottom neighbours garden! The flower petals everywhere I can cope with, the leaves in autumn not so much. More of it overhangs my garden than theirs and the roots run extensively into my garden. The shade and dryness prevent me from growing much under it which in a very small garden is a shame. Added to which if I don't get to them quickly when the cherries drop I get self seeded saplings growing.

Mollygo DGS is right to leave the dandelions, it's perfect insect food early in the season having both nectar and pollen.

Jaxjacky Sun 20-Apr-25 12:24:14

Our neighbours used to have one, they chopped it down, I miss it even if the blossom fell on our patio.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see them in Japan WWM2 stunning.

Aldom Sun 20-Apr-25 12:22:05

All part of the beauty that is Springtime.

Mollygo Sun 20-Apr-25 12:10:57

We have a Forsythia. 2 to 3 weeks of glorious yellow blossom and then just green leaves, but I like it anyway.
The point about the pollen, or food for the insects is important. I wasn’t terribly impressed though when I noticed my DGS had carefully mowed around the dandelions on the lawn yesterday, but he did explain it was for the bees.

ViceVersa Sun 20-Apr-25 11:52:01

Ours isn't flowering yet, but I love it when it's in full bloom. There is a wild cherry tree just on the lane outside our back gate and it's flowering beautifully just now. I love cherry blossom - so I'm more than prepared to put up with the petals to enjoy it for the short time it is in bloom.

Sarnia Sun 20-Apr-25 11:42:28

I have one planted by the previous owner. Petals all over the place at the moment especially with the breezy days we have had lately.
To digress a little. My daughter-in-law's neighbour has a glorious magnolia tree in their front garden. That doesn't last five minutes either.

aquagran Sun 20-Apr-25 11:38:16

We have one too, not planted by us! First the blossom then the leaves! So much work.

Silverbrooks Sun 20-Apr-25 11:34:04

what is the point of all that blossom with no fruit to follow?

Ornamental cherry trees provide a valuable early source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators.

Monty was waxing lyrically about his Taihaku on last week's GW. 14:30 minutes in:

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002b2g2/gardeners-world-2025-episode-6

My neighbour's is beautiful. Yes, it drops its blossom onto my side path but it's a matter of minutes to sweep it up.

J52 Sun 20-Apr-25 11:33:27

How about planting a clematis at the base of the trunk. We used to have a Montana growing through a silver birch. It looked like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon when in full flower. Also didn’t affect the tree.

Aldom Sun 20-Apr-25 11:28:00

I have an Autumn flowering cherry. So very uplifting on a cold, dark winter's day.
One of my happiest memories is of flowering cherry trees lining the avenue I walked through to the shops. It was during May, before my son was born in the July.

Witzend Sun 20-Apr-25 11:15:50

Sorry, but I’d still prefer almost any real fruit tree, perhaps especially an apple. But I know so many will disagree!

Whitewavemark2 Sun 20-Apr-25 10:55:50

The Japanese would strongly disagree 😄.

Actually the beauty of one in full flower is breathtaking.

Witzend Sun 20-Apr-25 10:53:27

Pretty for maybe a week, with a mountain of pink ‘snow’ to clear up afterwards. Actually IMO they should be called ‘No-cherries’ trees - what is the point of all that blossom with no fruit to follow?

We didn’t plant it , it was there when we bought the house decades ago and is now really too big. (And protected, so we can’t have it felled.).
Personally I’d much prefer a tree that produces fruit, apple blossom is IMO much prettier anyway - or even ‘real’ cherry blossom.
I dare say I will be seen as VVU but I now see flowering cherries as overdressed and blowsy!