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Flowering cherry tree - is it dying ?

neal4neal4 Posts: 19
in Problem solving

Over the last 2 years my winter flowering cherry tree has had an issue with its leaves.  They would develop small holes in them and then drop off along with lots of the smaller branches. I always collected the leaves and branches and disposed of them .This year we also cut back a large laurel which was close by in order to improve the air circulation around the tree.   Everything looked good until the last 2 weeks.  The leaves develop brown spots and then curl up and drop off.  Some also have small holes. The whole tree looks like it is going to drop.  I cannot identify exactly what the offending disease is or the cure.  I am wondering if its leaf scorch, but then I thought the leaves fail to drop.  Or leaf shothole maybe ?

I would really hate to loose this tree, it has been beautiful and would leave a massive hole in the garden landscape.

I would really appreciate some help.

Posts

  • neal4neal4 Posts: 19

    image

  • neal4neal4 Posts: 19

    Help desperately needed.  The tree is dropping at a rapid rate.  I am sweeping up 2 buckets of leaves a day to try and limit the spread of this .... whatever it is.

    Any help welcome.

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355

    This sounds like leaf spot. More info from the RHS here:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=567

    There appear to be no chemical controls for this but I would advice you continue to practice good plant hygiene (clearing up leaves etc) and give the tree a lot of TLC.

    I would give it a feed and a water and a good thick mulch of compost or similar and then perhaps try regular foliar feeding with liquid seaweed. Some people don't like to feed poorly plants but in this case I would.

    If you can strengthen the tree it will help it to fight the fungal infection.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    Agree with Topbird.  Remove all affected leaves and burn them if you can.  Do not put them on a compost heap or in a green bin.

    Water the tree well and then apply a generous feed of pelleted chicken manure or blood fish and bone and fork it in lightly around the roots and then mulch with some well rotted compost or chipped bark to keep the soil clear around the base of the trunk.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    What is the ground like round the base of the tree  Neal? Is it in the ground and relatively unrestricted? 

    I ask because often trees are in pots, and that can affect the care and maintenance.   image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • neal4neal4 Posts: 19

    Thanks everybody.  The tree is in the ground , ours is a heavy chalk soil but the tree is well established and some 12 years old.

    I have given the tree a good watering over the last few days.  I have already got both chicken manure and fish blood and bone ready (Thx Obelixx / Topbird).  I have also ordered some Mycorrhizal fungi which I plan to water into the area around the tree to try and get to its feeder roots.  After that I will mulch as suggested.

    Thanks everybody.  Any more advice  gratefully accepted.

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