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Is my Cherry Blossom tree dying?

Hello,

I'm a novice gardener so I need some help! image

For the second year running now, our lovely ornamental cherry blossom tree is looking very sad. Not all the branches bear buds, and when it does flower the leaves are droopy and the blossom comes off very quickly.

I had a tree surgeon in last year and he said it didn't look diseased, he trimmed up the dead branches which didn't seem to make any difference. It looks the same this year, although not yet in bloom I can already see which branches are bare and which will house a couple of buds.

I don't want to chop it down, it's 50+ years so it's very old. It used to be so beautiful, does anyone have any ideas on how I can make it better again?

Thanks

Posts

  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    I mix some bonemeal into the soil around the tree in around February/March ...

  • OK, is it too late to still do so?

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,485

    Hi Gemma

    Our ornamental cherry trees have also suffered these last two years and I am wondering whether it's the result of the very wet weather (or possibly pruning them at the wrong time in the winter so they might have got silver leaf disease which eventually kills them).

    Having said that, 50 + years is very long time and trees don't survive for ever, it may have just reached the end of its natural lifespan I'm afraid.  I would try the bonemeal now anyway to see if it perks up.

    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Hi Gemma, 2 or 3 years ago when we had that really late frost that killed lots of blossom etc, one of my ornamental cherries suffered really badly and lost all it's blossom.  It never recovered and had very few leaves, last year it had no buds at all and again only a few leaves.  We asked at our local GC/Nursery and followed there advice re breaking a small twig/branch and it just snapped off, at that point we actually realised that the tree could move!!!  My OH literally pushed it down with his hand, the roots had gone image

    I'm not sure how old ours was but I would say at least 20. Fingers crossed the other one seems ok and has blossom on at the moment and the birds are already looking for cherries.

    I hope you can get yours sorted.

  • Good morning All ‘

    need help” 

    im no Gardner at all.  My husband brought me a beautiful cherry blossom mid-November and planted in a spot where the soil had no life at all I have Cents put in three bags of new fertiliser and sea sol , that  The man down at the garden nursery told me to do. In the past three weeks we have had pretty hot weather for November I have been watering and turning soil every second day. Last night I checked on the tree And the laves feel dry and crusty.

     And the laves feel dry and crusty.

    Please can you help me ‘ this tree Originally was planted from my father 10 years ago then he passed and so did the tree he planted. My husband did such a great thing in surprising me with the new tree ... 

    i dont want to kill it ????

    kind regards 

    kylie

  • Don't know why you're turning the soil ... that will disturb roots and speed up moisture evaporation. 

    How much water are you giving it?  In hot dry weather I would give it two buckets full of water three times per week. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,496

    Cherry is prone to Honey Fungus. I had to cut down a beautiful cherry tree a few years ago because of this. I also started to lose my privet hedge which is also prone to it. Had to dig out a big section and replace it.

    Honey fungus can live on dead tree stumps that might still be in your garden.

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