My sour cherry trees and ... - Ask Extension
My sour cherry trees and apple trees have green or mossy looking growth on the branches. They are not near each other. The moss covered branches will ...
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My sour cherry trees and ... #155882
Asked October 06, 2013, 11:54 AM EDT
My sour cherry trees and apple trees have green or mossy looking growth on the branches. They are not near each other. The moss covered branches will wither and die, and easily break off. We have tried clearing larger trees around them to provide more sun. Pics are of cherry tree. What kind of disease do they have? And how do I treat them?
Carlton County Minnesota
Expert Response
The mossy looking growths on the
branches are lichens. These do not affect the health of the trees and are
not killing the branches. You can ignore them.
The apparent association between the lichens and the dying branches may reflect the fact that lichens are likely to be most abundant on the older branches which are typically the first to decline and die as the trees age.
We don't know what's causing the die back. Several bacterial and fungal diseases as well as borers can kill apple and cherry tree leaves and branches. We'd have to see the branches and trunks to know what pests and pathogens are present.
The following bulletins discuss cherry pests and diseases that often kill branches. Perhaps you can diagnose the problem yourself by comparing what you see in the orchard to the descriptions in the bulletins. If not, a certified arborist may be able to assess the trees' health on site and suggest a course of action.
Bacterial Canker
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/stone/diseases/bacterial-canker-1
American Plum Borer
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/apb/apb.asp
Cytospora Canker (Scroll to diseases section)
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/pacherries-tart.pdf
Brown Rot (Scroll to diseases section)
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/pacherries-tart.pdf
Peach Tree Borer
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/peachtree-borer
Please note that tart cherry trees are relatively short-lived. Twenty to 25 years is the usual maximum.
If the apple trees are equally affected, please reply to this message with photos of those attached.
The apparent association between the lichens and the dying branches may reflect the fact that lichens are likely to be most abundant on the older branches which are typically the first to decline and die as the trees age.
We don't know what's causing the die back. Several bacterial and fungal diseases as well as borers can kill apple and cherry tree leaves and branches. We'd have to see the branches and trunks to know what pests and pathogens are present.
The following bulletins discuss cherry pests and diseases that often kill branches. Perhaps you can diagnose the problem yourself by comparing what you see in the orchard to the descriptions in the bulletins. If not, a certified arborist may be able to assess the trees' health on site and suggest a course of action.
Bacterial Canker
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/stone/diseases/bacterial-canker-1
American Plum Borer
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/apb/apb.asp
Cytospora Canker (Scroll to diseases section)
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/pacherries-tart.pdf
Brown Rot (Scroll to diseases section)
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/pacherries-tart.pdf
Peach Tree Borer
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/peachtree-borer
Please note that tart cherry trees are relatively short-lived. Twenty to 25 years is the usual maximum.
If the apple trees are equally affected, please reply to this message with photos of those attached.
