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Ornamental cherry leaf dieback

charlotteharr45charlotteharr45 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello, we have an ornamental cherry tree that until a couple of years ago was very healthy.  It has now lost I would say 50% of its leaves and has many dead branches.  The highest areas are worst affected but all areas have declined.  The bark is cracked in many areas and moss/lichen has moved in.  Does anyone know what disease could take hold so quickly? The neighbours' Laburnum had the same issue which is I guess has infected our cherry. We are thinking we might have to remove the tree and plant another in its place but are concerned the new tree may suffer the same fate if the soil carries whatever disease this is.
Any advice appreciated.



Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited May 2021
    That looks like a very old cherry tree, which have relatively short lives (between 15 and 30 years, usually.)  It looks like it has canker in several places which is a progressive and incurable disease in trees of this family, which enters through bark damage and gradually slows growth, as the disease slowly kills the living layer beneath the bark (cambium), hence the arrival of the lichen (which is harmless but indicates slow growth.)
    Nothing you can do I'm afraid, other than enjoy it until it finally gives-up, or replacement.  The good news is canker doesn't spread through the soil, so new trees won't be affected that way.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • charlotteharr45charlotteharr45 Posts: 4
    Thank you very much for the advice. Such a shame as it was a beautiful tree. I think we will go for the replacement option.  Looking at a pretty dark leaved cherry plum Prunus Cerasifera Nigra.  Fingers crossed it takes okay.  
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