Cherry Blossom Tree Bark Splitting - Ask Extension
I have a 20 year old Cherry Blossom tree that blooms beautifully each spring. I was going to get It trimmed. However, looking at it more closely, I fi...
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Cherry Blossom Tree Bark Splitting #654044
Asked June 21, 2020, 3:35 PM EDT
I have a 20 year old Cherry Blossom tree that blooms beautifully each spring. I was going to get It trimmed. However, looking at it more closely, I find the tree trunk bark is splitting In multiple places and the leaves have some sort of disease (see pictures). As the tree is nearing the end of its lifespan, would it be better to trim and treat it, or at this point, should I just take the tree down and plant a new tree.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
It's not time to give up on your cherry tree, especially if it is still blooming well for you, and the canopy still has a good amount of leaves and live limbs.
Most bark splitting on ornamental cherries can be considered normal as this happens as the tree grows. The leaf spotting/yellowing is a disease called cherry shothole which is worse in wet springs like we had this year. Those yellow leaves will drop soon and you can gather them and put them in the trash.
Here is a page on cherry shot hole: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cherry-shot-hole-flowering-cherries
The biggest issue we see with your tree is that it was planted too deeply, which can slowly cause decline and death over a long period of time.
We should be able to see a gentle widening or root flare of the trunk before it goes into the ground, but yours goes in straight like a telephone pole.
If the tree is important to you, you could consider having an on-site consultation with a certified arborist, who is a tree health expert credentialed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). (Most larger tree companies have one on staff or you can search for one at www.treesaregood.org ) They have specialized equipment such as air spades that can uncover the root collar/flare).
Otherwise, just prune out dead wood if needed and enjoy the tree for as long as you have it, which may be many years yet.
Here is our page on planting too deeply: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/planted-too-deeply
Christine
Most bark splitting on ornamental cherries can be considered normal as this happens as the tree grows. The leaf spotting/yellowing is a disease called cherry shothole which is worse in wet springs like we had this year. Those yellow leaves will drop soon and you can gather them and put them in the trash.
Here is a page on cherry shot hole: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cherry-shot-hole-flowering-cherries
The biggest issue we see with your tree is that it was planted too deeply, which can slowly cause decline and death over a long period of time.
We should be able to see a gentle widening or root flare of the trunk before it goes into the ground, but yours goes in straight like a telephone pole.
If the tree is important to you, you could consider having an on-site consultation with a certified arborist, who is a tree health expert credentialed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). (Most larger tree companies have one on staff or you can search for one at www.treesaregood.org ) They have specialized equipment such as air spades that can uncover the root collar/flare).
Otherwise, just prune out dead wood if needed and enjoy the tree for as long as you have it, which may be many years yet.
Here is our page on planting too deeply: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/planted-too-deeply
Christine
