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Robin Hill / Amelanchier cherry trees - is this fire blight?

neilberryneilberry Posts: 18
in Problem solving
I have four Robin Hill trees, two of them have this issue (so far). Unfortunately I had a similar problem last year, never quite solved it.  

It seem to start with just some of the leaves on one of the trees. Then over the course of this month has quickly spread to more leaves and one of the trees next to it. 

I saw on RHS that these trees can be susceptible to fire blight, is that what this is?  Or maybe it's a insect issue of some kind I'm not seeing. Mites? 

Last year I thought it might be a water issue, but it's only April just coming out of winter and I've also been watering regularly because of the little rain.

I'm guessing maybe I should be removing these branches thoroughly ?  I hate to use pesticides. But do I need to consider that as well? 

Appreciate any thoughts or advice!


Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    At first glance it looks more like something seriously wrong with the soil/compost, but you appear to have some smaller shrubs growing there that looks quite happy - are they growing in the same soil as the trees?
    Do you know what the white pebbles are that you've dressed the top with?
    If they're limestone chippings then they may make the soil too alkaline.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • neilberryneilberry Posts: 18
    Ok interesting. Thank you I hadn't thought of that (sorry, novice gardner).  Come to think of it the other two trees that are doing fine don't have the pebbles over them - so that would make sense.  (These are the pebbles, I don't think they're limestone: https://www.cedstone.co.uk/products/pearly-quartz-pebbles). 
    There is a membrane underneath the pebbles.  Maybe i need to do some soil testing/fertilisation/balancing?  


  • neilberryneilberry Posts: 18
    Actually just had a look again, and it seems to be starting in the tree closest, which doesn't have pebbles over it.  But maybe there's still an overall soil problem? Thank you. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    That's a lovely garden Neil. Very well designed too.
    I doubt the quartz would cause any problems.
    If it was the soil I'd have thought it would affect the box(?) you have there too.

    I hope someone else may be able to come up with something
    Best of luck

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    edited April 2020
    Tricky one , it looks more like a deficiency to me. Have you fed the plants at all ?  and if you have what have you used . It could be a Potassium deficiency or possibly a magnesium but I am more leaning on Potassium . 

    It doesn't look like fireblight to me at the moment but its still very early in the season so it could be , its how the colouring of the leaf is so .

    have you done a PH test of the soil ?
  • neilberryneilberry Posts: 18
    Thanks Pete (I can't take full credit, emulated a garden design I'd seen elsewhere). I do use box hedge specific fertliser on the boxes so maybe their soil is improved.  Appreciate that Perki, researching Potassium and Magnesium deficiency now.  I've never done a PH test, but seems like I should - if that would help indicate? Thank you
  • brian stoatbrian stoat Posts: 111
    I’ve planted an Amelanchier about 8 weeks ago and it’s just started doing the same. Another that I planted 3 years ago has also recently done the same thing. I was putting it down to the extreme heat and hoping extra watering would help with the new growth and general health, though I know I won’t restore the damaged leaves.
    Did yours perk up?
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