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Prunus Amanogawa - Healthy or Not?

Emmak202020Emmak202020 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi All

I am new to the forums and also new to gardening generally so was hoping for some help with my recently purchased and planted Prunus'Amanogawa' (pole cherry). 

When I purchased it from the nursery I noticed some holes in the leaves at the top and some mottling on the bark. I asked the lady at the nursery and she explained it was caused by leaf cutting wasps and assured me it was nothing to worry about and the tree was disease free. 

However, I’m now worried this wasn’t right as the leaves look increasingly droopy and a bit curled in places, some have browning edges and a small amount what look like insect trails on them. I’m looking for some expert opinions on if I have an issue or not and if so if it’s something I can fix or if I should be returning to the nursery?

Some photos attached. 

Thanks in Advance 

Emma

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited October 2022
    Hello Emma, welcome to the forum  :)

    It's possible that the tree may have been affected by the drought conditions earlier in the Summer. Even the nursery may not have been able to keep up with the necessary watering. 
    It's difficult to tell from your photos, but l assume the tree has been planted in the ground as opposed to a large pot. It's possible that it may be a little too close to the fence which would act as a "rain shadow".
    How much watering have you been doing ?

    Would it be possible for you to post a long distance shot just to give more idea (there is a glitch on the forum which turns photos sideways,  if you reduce the size slightly,  they appear the right way up).

    Also, if you can give an idea of whereabouts you are (a general location will do), that will help with advice. 
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I can see signs of leafcutter bee damage, not a problem. In general it looks OK for October.
    Also small discrete holes in leaves are common in cherry and are a defence against infection.
    Look closely at the bark and check that there are no signs that the bark is weeping. That would be a problem as cherries are prone to bacterial canker, but you would see that.
  • Emmak202020Emmak202020 Posts: 6
    Thanks both for your quick and helpful replies.

    We are in Leicestershire, UK. We have very clay soil but we took out about 5 inches and replaced it with new top soil and mixed through some compost before planting in the area. The area the tree is is partial shade. I can’t see any weeping or sights of fungus or pests (bar a few white flies). 

    Ref watering - it’s been in about 4-6 weeks and the first week or so was warm with little rain so I was watering it liberally every other day to get it established and making sure the soil remained moist but not laden. Since then the British weather has taken over and we’ve had some pretty heavy rain fall pretty much every 2-3 days so I’ve been letting it be as if anything the soil has seemed a little too moist

    Adding a full length photo as requested (although can’t seem to get it right way round!). Thanks again, much appreciated. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I had one of these for many years until I had the drive widened.
    They do get to be big trees and while they're narrow, they're not that narrow.

    I can only find one pic of it-


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    emmakincla said:
    Thanks both for your quick and helpful replies.

    We are in Leicestershire, UK. We have very clay soil but we took out about 5 inches and replaced it with new top soil and mixed through some compost before planting in the area. The area the tree is is partial shade. I can’t see any weeping or sights of fungus or pests (bar a few white flies). 

    Ref watering - it’s been in about 4-6 weeks and the first week or so was warm with little rain so I was watering it liberally every other day to get it established and making sure the soil remained moist but not laden. Since then the British weather has taken over and we’ve had some pretty heavy rain fall pretty much every 2-3 days so I’ve been letting it be as if anything the soil has seemed a little too moist

    Adding a full length photo as requested (although can’t seem to get it right way round!). Thanks again, much appreciated. 
    If you want to keep it very narrow then you can wire it in as it grows. Otherwise they can get middle age spread.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think it can be the luck of the draw with this variety. I had one in the front garden of my old house, and it remained pretty narrow, but l think the branches can divide which makes it wider.
    According to GW it can get up to 4 metres wide, and 8 metres high, but careful pruning should help.
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/prunus-amanogawa/

    I think the only thing you need to keep an eye on is the watering Emma. The fact it's also close to the house wall and the overhanging roof may well limit the amounf of natural rainfall it receives. 
    It shouldn't be a problem over winter so much, but l would check on it now and again, and definitely from Spring onwards  :)
  • Emmak202020Emmak202020 Posts: 6
    Thanks all. I think I’m hearing I shouldn’t be worried about it’s health but do need to be careful with watering and pruning - so will look into that a bit more! 

    @Pete.8 that’s a beautiful tree - hope mine turns out as well - although maybe quite a bit smaller given my limited space!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The damaged leaves shouldn't be a problem - it'll be losing them soon now that it's autumn. In the small raised bed there you will need to keep an eye on the watering through spring and summer, as others have said.
    @Pete.8 's because until last year it was fairly close to a privet hedge which took a lot of the water.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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