It might be worth noting that my amelanchier had much less vivid autumn colour this year than is usual … I attributed it to lower sunlight levels this recent summer .., it has been unusually dull 😞
I have one of those too and know what you mean, though I'm not sure that explains why all the cherry leaves looked wilting from late summer onwards ?
Aren't you in France dove from what I recall (unless I'm confusing you with another user)?
No it doesn’t explain all the symptoms … just thought it was worth noting.
I’m in central Norfolk, UK.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't know why the leaves have looked terrible since the summer but a lack of colour seems to be quite widespread this year. We have a viburnum that normally turns a glorious bright red but I don't think we have had it cold enough yet to start the change, or at least didn't have it cold early enough. As I look at it now it has some red tinged edges to the outer leaves but these would have been blasted away by the wind if it wasn't in such a sheltered position. It's getting more common that our acers have their leaves blown off before the autumn show and some years we get very little autumn colour because I think the plants are just confused with all this weird weather.
Yes, I agree. It has been so mild, I don't think all plants have registered it is late autumn. Plus, with all the rain, the leaves have stayed green. Then, suddenly we get a few long cold nights and the shedding process kicks in before the autumn colour process.
Thanks all. That does make sense so we'll see how it fares next year I guess. I have a tiny containerised Acer that fared well this year and my discovery apple turned a lovely butter yellow but the cherry really seems to have suffered this year as per the photos.
It's not the lack of autumn colour that would worry me, it's the early wilting that didn't respond to water. Nothing to do but wait and see what it does next year, and hope for a better performance.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I’ve seen cherry trees in the more southern parts of France with their leaves turned down during really hot dry spells but they perk up when they get rain.
The OP says his tree didn’t respond to a soaking … does he know how many gallons he gave it and how frequently? In some places the effect of the drought in ‘22 continued to affect the subsoil this year.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good point @Dovefromabove. I think most of the UK got plenty of rain in July and the canopy doesn't look dense enough to stop rain getting through, but maybe the drainage is very sharp or something is competing with it for moisture.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I’ve seen cherry trees in the more southern parts of France with their leaves turned down during really hot dry spells but they perk up when they get rain.
The OP says his tree didn’t respond to a soaking … does he know how many gallons he gave it and how frequently? In some places the effect of the drought in ‘22 continued to affect the subsoil this year.
I don't measure how many gallons I give established trees, Dove, but all you need to know is that it had a thorough, deep soaking with the hose pipe for over 3 minutes in duration, which would have been many litres.
I'm personally out of ideas now so all I can do is hope that the tree's root system is still functioning and that it can bounce back next year. I'd be happy to provide photos next summer again and perhaps we can take it from there.
Good point @Dovefromabove. I think most of the UK got plenty of rain in July and the canopy doesn't look dense enough to stop rain getting through, but maybe the drainage is very sharp or something is competing with it for moisture.
It is in well-drained soil, which presumably isn't a bad thing for a cherry tree. It has been established for a number of years now and as stated previously, is perhaps 8 years old or so and has competed well against surrounding lawn, which has never affected it. There are no other major plants with major roots close to it.
My hydrangea leaves are behaving in a similar manner. Still perfectly green, but dropping and shedding. Normally they have red tinges, then go crispy brown and cling on the stems till Feb. It's been very wet and very mild, and then really cold the last couple of nights. They have gone straight from summer to winter mode.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It's getting more common that our acers have their leaves blown off before the autumn show and some years we get very little autumn colour because I think the plants are just confused with all this weird weather.
That does make sense so we'll see how it fares next year I guess.
I have a tiny containerised Acer that fared well this year and my discovery apple turned a lovely butter yellow but the cherry really seems to have suffered this year as per the photos.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm personally out of ideas now so all I can do is hope that the tree's root system is still functioning and that it can bounce back next year. I'd be happy to provide photos next summer again and perhaps we can take it from there.
It has been established for a number of years now and as stated previously, is perhaps 8 years old or so and has competed well against surrounding lawn, which has never affected it. There are no other major plants with major roots close to it.