Flowering Cherry 'Snow Showers'

Where to Plant
Choose a position in full sun with moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. 'Snow Showers' will tolerate a range of soil types, including chalk and clay, provided the ground drains freely. Allow enough space for its weeping branches to spread and cascade naturally as it matures.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree
Plant while the tree is dormant, avoiding periods when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Unpack the tree as soon as it arrives and soak the roots in a bucket of water for around 30 minutes before planting. Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread out naturally without bending or crowding them.

Before planting, look for the soil mark on the stem left from where the tree was previously growing. Position the tree so this mark is level with the surrounding soil, with the roots below ground and the graft union remaining above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with the excavated soil, gently firm and water thoroughly.

Staking
Stake the tree if needed to prevent the root system moving while it establishes. Position the stake so that it supports the tree without rubbing against the stem or branches, and check the tie regularly as the tree grows.

Watering
Water regularly throughout the first growing season, particularly during warm or dry weather. Newly planted trees need consistent moisture while their roots establish, but avoid keeping the ground permanently wet or waterlogged. Continue to water during prolonged dry spells over the first few years.

Feeding & Mulching
Apply a layer of well-rotted garden compost or organic mulch around the base in spring to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it clear of the trunk. If growth needs a boost, apply a balanced tree and shrub fertiliser in spring according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Pruning
Very little pruning should be needed. Allow the branches to develop their naturally weeping shape and remove only dead, damaged, diseased or badly positioned growth where necessary. If pruning is required, carry it out in summer when the tree is actively growing to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease.

Pests & Problems
Flowering cherries can occasionally be affected by caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and silver leaf. Good growing conditions, well-drained soil and avoiding unnecessary pruning will help keep the tree healthy.

Small Gardens & Spaces
'Snow Showers' gives you all the beauty of a weeping flowering cherry in a much more manageable size. Its compact, slow-growing habit makes it particularly useful for smaller gardens and confined spaces where a large flowering cherry would take up too much room.

Patios & Large Pots
'Snow Showers' can also be grown in a large patio container, making its cascading blossom possible even where planting space is limited. Choose a substantial container with good drainage and keep a particularly close eye on watering during warm, dry weather.

Make It a Feature
In the ground, give the tree a position where its cascading branches can really be appreciated. It looks particularly effective in a lawn or open border, where there's enough room for the branches to develop their natural weeping shape.

Cottage-Garden Planting
Underplant with spring bulbs such as crocuses, muscari and miniature daffodils for extra colour beneath the white blossom. Hellebores and hardy geraniums can continue the display around the base as the season progresses.

Urban Gardens
Its compact proportions and tolerance of pollution make 'Snow Showers' a useful choice for city gardens too, bringing spring blossom, an elegant weeping shape and autumn colour to smaller urban spaces.

Top Tip:
Give the weeping branches enough space to develop naturally rather than surrounding the tree with large, dense shrubs that could hide its distinctive shape.

Spring Blossom
Masses of single, snowy white flowers cover the weeping branches in early spring, creating cascades of blossom that are also popular with visiting bees.

Summer
Mid-green foliage follows the flowers and clothes the weeping branches through summer. Keep newly planted trees well watered during prolonged dry spells, particularly while the root system is establishing.

Autumn Colour
As temperatures fall, the foliage turns bright shades of orange, yellow and red before dropping, bringing another colourful display later in the year.

Winter
'Snow Showers' is deciduous, so it will naturally lose its leaves and remain dormant through winter. This is also the ideal time to plant bare-root trees, provided the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.

Top Tip:
Let the branches develop their naturally cascading shape rather than routinely cutting them back. If pruning is necessary, carry it out during summer while the tree is actively growing.

Potted Trees
Potted trees arrive growing in a container and can generally be planted throughout the year, provided the ground isn't frozen, waterlogged or exceptionally dry. If you can't plant immediately, keep the tree outdoors in a sheltered position and water the compost as needed.

Bare-Root Trees
Your bare-root tree will arrive dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots, ready for planting. It will have no leaves at this stage, which is completely normal – once temperatures rise in spring, it will naturally come back into active growth. Unpack your tree promptly, keep the roots moist and plant as soon as possible.

What Does Grafted Mean?
Many ornamental trees are grafted, which means the chosen variety is joined to a compatible rootstock so the two grow together as one tree. The rootstock helps influence characteristics such as vigour and eventual size. You may notice a slightly raised area where the two have been joined – this is the graft union and is completely normal.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away
If planting is delayed, keep bare roots cool, moist and protected. For more than a short delay, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil in a sheltered position until conditions are suitable for planting.

After Planting
Newly planted trees need regular watering while they establish, particularly during dry weather in their first growing season. A spring mulch can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but always leave a clear gap around the trunk or stems.