plum or cherry tree?

[shockofred]

Hi! I am widening my borders and would like to put a larger tree/shrub in one corner. (the border has a fence behind it, and a small concrete wall where the garden is split into two levels, both of which I'd like to hide a bit!) It is north facing, and shaded by the fence. The soil is good and slightly clay. I fancy a little fruit tree, possibly a morello cherry or a plum? Or something else entirely! What do you reckon?

[BlueBrightBlue]

Plum trees can grow quite big so check the rootstock. Also most fruit trees need to cross pollenate to bear fruit, in other words you may have to buy a second one if there is not a suitable cross pollinator nearby,
Cherries are lovely but will need to be netted or the birds will pinch the fruit.
I suggest you visit an independent nursery for further advice.
BTW Morrello cherries are lovely but plagued by black spot.

[shockofred]

Thanks Blue. Am I right in thinking sone cherries are self pollinating? I do have a dwarf apple in a pot and there is a big elder that hangs over our fence nearby too. Would either of them do the job? (I am a complete fruit tree novice!!) I will continue with my research

[BlueBrightBlue]

No , other fruits don't pollinate cherries.
The apple needs to come out of the pot or else planted up in JI's 3 with a good few handfuls of bone meal, always sprinkle this around roots when planting.
"Stella" is the only self pollinating one that comes to mind but you really need to speak to a grower.

[shockofred]

Thanks for the apple advice - it was in a pot when I was given it, and flowered and fruited nicely. I moved it into the ground the following year and it wasn't happy at all, so I repotted it in a bigger pot but it didn't blossom at all last year. I've left it alone and it's seems happy enough so I thought I'd see what happens this spring. Do you think this is the best approach? Maybe a handful of bonemeal? I appreciate your help

[BlueBrightBlue]

I wouldn't do anything until it has blossomed. After sprinkle potash od blood fish and bone around the surface and for in. Never feed before flowering.
Bone meal encourage root growth and is helpful when planting out.

[SugarPlumTree]

I was in Tesco this morning and they had Stella for £8

[shockofred]

picked up a Morello for £6 in poundstretcher! Looks healthy enough, and is self fertile too. Hurray!

[garTREE0153]

I planted a cherry but it was a bit pot bound so I tore it out again.??
Then ridden with self pity self denigration

There's a tree planting app link on the postings about the neighbours leylandii hedge can't be bothered to type it out again the iPhone isnew something else to worry about RHS has some great advice. But you need time to read it all. Always check source of info

[garTREE0153]

By the way you can get in touch with horticultural / agricultural colleges. The lecturers can be very forthcoming with advice. Dont they have students?