Cherry tree dead? - Ask Extension
Hi! I planted a montmorency cherry last spring. It was still fully leafed out when the frost hit in late October. It has small buds now but they don't...
Knowledgebase
Cherry tree dead? #236985
Asked April 14, 2015, 4:24 PM EDT
Hi! I planted a montmorency cherry last spring. It was still fully leafed out when the frost hit in late October. It has small buds now but they don't seem to be growing. How can I tell if it's alive?
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Most of the buds in your photo look like they are expanding, to open soon.
The bark looks OK. Some leaves appear to have been "flash-frozen" on the tree from a sudden and severe cold snap.
Pinch off one bud and cut it in half with a knife. If it's green and moist on the inside, it (was) alive, and there are probably many remaining buds alive. L i g h t l y scrape the bark of a twig near the top of the tree, using a fingernail or jackknife. . If you see green-brown tissue at the scrape, that portion of the tree is still alive.
The bark looks OK. Some leaves appear to have been "flash-frozen" on the tree from a sudden and severe cold snap.
Pinch off one bud and cut it in half with a knife. If it's green and moist on the inside, it (was) alive, and there are probably many remaining buds alive. L i g h t l y scrape the bark of a twig near the top of the tree, using a fingernail or jackknife. . If you see green-brown tissue at the scrape, that portion of the tree is still alive.
