black cherry disease - Ask Extension
Hello:This is what's happening to our black cherry trees. It got progressively worse within the last 2 years. there is something growing on the leaves...
Knowledgebase
black cherry disease #257712
Asked June 28, 2015, 2:36 PM EDT
Hello:
This is what's happening to our black cherry trees. It got progressively worse within the last 2 years. there is something growing on the leaves. Can the tress be saved? (we have more than a dozen of them) or do we need to cut them down to stop it spreading to other fruit trees? thank you. If we need to cut them down- do we have to burn them to stop the disease from spreading?
This is what's happening to our black cherry trees. It got progressively worse within the last 2 years. there is something growing on the leaves. Can the tress be saved? (we have more than a dozen of them) or do we need to cut them down to stop it spreading to other fruit trees? thank you. If we need to cut them down- do we have to burn them to stop the disease from spreading?
Sherburne County Minnesota
Expert Response
I have attached two links for you to read. One is information on your cherry trees, care and explains the "mite" you are dealing with on your trees, you will see a picture of it on the first link. The second link is a description on care and how to treat those mites during the growing season.
http://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/blackcherry.html
https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/eriophyid-mites2010.pdf
Your trees do not need to be take down but there are some preventative measures you can due to reduce this problem in future growing seasons. This year was an exceptionally wet spring and cool, ideal climates for all these bugs to multiply. I would suggest that you clean up very thoroughly all the leaves at the base of your trees this fall. Those finger galls on your leaves will develop into spores and leave those spores in the ground for winter and next spring with the moisture they will surface as mites once again in your trees. Cleaning up around your trees will help control this. The second link will help you a little this year but next spring spraying these trees will help control the trees especially when the blossoms appear on the tree. Some of the suggestions on that site are natural treatments and they are certainly worth a try.
Thanks for asking a Master Gardener,
http://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/blackcherry.html
https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/eriophyid-mites2010.pdf
Your trees do not need to be take down but there are some preventative measures you can due to reduce this problem in future growing seasons. This year was an exceptionally wet spring and cool, ideal climates for all these bugs to multiply. I would suggest that you clean up very thoroughly all the leaves at the base of your trees this fall. Those finger galls on your leaves will develop into spores and leave those spores in the ground for winter and next spring with the moisture they will surface as mites once again in your trees. Cleaning up around your trees will help control this. The second link will help you a little this year but next spring spraying these trees will help control the trees especially when the blossoms appear on the tree. Some of the suggestions on that site are natural treatments and they are certainly worth a try.
Thanks for asking a Master Gardener,
