Hi Laurie & Ed!

I'm sorry your cherry tree is suffering!

The good news is that I don't see obvious signs of one of the dreadful diseases that cherry trees are susceptible to in your photos (when I read your question I thought:  "Oh no!  Black rot." that killed a beautiful cherry tree we "inherited" when we bought our house back in 1993. But I don't see black rot in the three photos you've sent us -- whew!).

The bad news is that I do see a lot of lichen in your three photos.  Lichen usually shows up when trees have been suffering & declining for a while.  It's not the cause of the decline, but it indicates that the tree isn't doing well. (It's part of nature's recycling program... :-)

There may be a specific disease attacking your tree, but it seems that your tree has outlived it's normal life span of 15-20 years.  Very impressive! (Especially without pruning!)  But it's clearly on the decline now.

You can take a look at this list of ornamental cherry tree diseases from Penn State's Extension program to see if you can diagnose a specific disease (I can't from the three photos):   https://extension.psu.edu/ornamental-cherry-diseases

You can, of course, do all that you are able to do to support your cherry tree in it's battle:  i.e.:  water it when we have dry periods, rake up all debris and dispose of it far away from the tree (regularly, but especially in the fall)....mulch and provide periodic organic fertilizer....and I would normally recommend pruning regularly (usually in the early Spring before the tree starts to leaf out) to ensure that light & air can reach the remaining branches.  I can send you "how to prune" instructions, but I am guessing that it may be time to celebrate the life of this tree and plan it's successor.  Sorry! 

Still:  you've only sent three closeups of branches full of lichens.  If you want to send some more pictures showing the full tree....and clearer images of the leaves....I'd be happy to take a look in hopes of seeing more promise (or finding a specific disease or problem...).   The few leaves that I can see seems to be "troubled" -- but I can't tell much from this set of photos.  

 Let me know if you'd like fruit tree pruning instructions....or if you'd like to share more photos in hopes of diagnosing a specific problem beyond "natural life cycle."

-- Robilee Smith 

Hi Laurie!

I read your nice note -- that was so lovely of you to offer to share your Sarah Bernhardt peony with me! Peonies are my favorite plant; but I have learned that they don't like to be disturbed -- so I will politely decline and encourage you to make room for your peony until & unless it seems to really need to be divided. They can live for 12-15 years....even up to 20 though then you'll see fewer blooms. If you DO decide to divide your peony: September's the best time in our area...and be aware that the divided plants may take a year or two to recover before they bloom again.)

I decided to wait a day to see if you might post new photos; but since I don't see any new ones, I'll offer what I can tonight:

• You've provided great "big picture" photos so that I can see that the entire tree is suffering
• It's hard to make any kind of diagnosis without close-up photos of the leaves (at least)
• Still: one photo does show some of the leaves....though it's still hard to see exactly what the problem is...what little I can detect there suggest drought...or possible diseases....nothing I can pinpoint clearly from the small image (within the photo)

You've shared that the tree did bloom this year (albeit sparsely) so it seems your tree didn't suffer from a late frost killing all the buds...and since there were some buds: it seems you have at least some active pollinators. Those are both positives.

But the lichen tells me that the tree is weakened and has been suffering for some time. The drought/high heat we suffered through early this season must have been really hard on your cherry tree. Not sure if you watered it, but my guess is that it was already weakened and would have had a tough time during that drought. Now, of course, we have the opposite: an abundance of rain... (The joys of gardening! Never a dull moment!)

If you or your husband can take some clear close-up shots of the tree's leaves -- ones that help us see if there are distinct problems such as fungal spots or pest damage (or even some actual insects): that might help us diagnose a specific disease or insect. I fear, though, that your tree has been weakened and may have multiple problems now (diseases and pests love to take advantage...).

I'm sorry to be the bearer of such discouraging news. But still: if you can send some clear close-up photos of the tree's leaves, perhaps we can discern more that might help.

Hoping my fears for your tree aren't warranted here....

-- Robilee

Hi Laurie!

I read your nice note -- that was so lovely of you to offer to share your Sarah Bernhardt peony with me! Peonies are my favorite plant; but I have learned that they don't like to be disturbed -- so I will politely decline and encourage you to make room for your peony until & unless it seems to really need to be divided. They can live for 12-15 years....even up to 20 though then you'll see fewer blooms. If you DO decide to divide your peony: September's the best time in our area...and be aware that the divided plants may take a year or two to recover before they bloom again.)

I decided to wait a day to see if you might post new photos; but since I don't see any new ones, I'll offer what I can tonight:

• You've provided great "big picture" photos so that I can see that the entire tree is suffering
• It's hard to make any kind of diagnosis without close-up photos of the leaves (at least)
• Still: one photo does show some of the leaves....though it's still hard to see exactly what the problem is...what little I can detect there suggest drought...or possible diseases....nothing I can pinpoint clearly from the small image (within the photo)

You've shared that the tree did bloom this year (albeit sparsely) so it seems your tree didn't suffer from a late frost killing all the buds...and since there were some buds: it seems you have at least some active pollinators. Those are both positives.

But the lichen tells me that the tree is weakened and has been suffering for some time. The drought/high heat we suffered through early this season must have been really hard on your cherry tree. Not sure if you watered it, but my guess is that it was already weakened and would have had a tough time during that drought. Now, of course, we have the opposite: an abundance of rain... (The joys of gardening! Never a dull moment!)

If you or your husband can take some clear close-up shots of the tree's leaves -- ones that help us see if there are distinct problems such as fungal spots or pest damage (or even some actual insects): that might help us diagnose a specific disease or insect. I fear, though, that your tree has been weakened and may have multiple problems now (diseases and pests love to take advantage...).

I'm sorry to be the bearer of such discouraging news. But still: if you can send some clear close-up photos of the tree's leaves, perhaps we can discern more that might help.

Hoping my fears for your tree aren't warranted here....

-- Robilee

Hmmm...I seem to be having some trouble with our Ask Extension tool.....I suspect we may have had our efforts to communicate with each other somehow conflict....

But if you've received my last note....and I've now received yours with the offer to have Ed take some leaf photos tomorrow: I'll await your pictures.  I really can't tell from the "big picture" pictures....but if your tree is suffering from cherry leaf spot: you could make an effort to give it a chance next year.  (Would require doing a really great job of cleaning up this fall -- cherry leaf spot overwinters if given the chance....). 

Hoping we might have some hope for your tree,

-- Robilee 


                                                                                                                                                                   

Hi Laurie!

I don't see the new photos that your husband took.  Could you try attaching them again?

THANKS!!

-- Robilee

Trying to reach out to you once again, Laurie:

It's OK if you don't need any further follow-up, but I wanted to be sure you weren't waiting for a further response from us.

My note of about a week ago may not have reached you.  Just wanted to let you know that I wasn't able to see your husband's new (detailed) photos.....not visible on my end.  So if you do want to share them with us for further diagnosis:  I hope you will try to attach/send the new photos to us now.

No pressure here:  just didn't want to let YOU down if you were waiting for a further response from our VT Master Gardener Helpline.

- Robilee

Thank you for the close-up photos, Laurie!

I hope I didn't add pressure to your already very busy week:  just wanted to be sure that we hadn't left you "out on a limb" lacking a response.

From Ed's close-up photos: my best guess is that your cherry tree is (or:  has been for a while...) suffering from Cherry Leaf Spot disease.  Since you know your tree's history (how this disease appears & progresses, e.g.), here is a fact sheet from the University of Minnesota that you can review to see how well it seems to match up to your tree's ailments:

https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cherry-leaf-spot

I'm sorry that our diagnostics lab isn't available at this time; so I will ask our UVM Master Gardener faculty lead, Ann Hazelrigg, to look at Ed's photos and apply her expertise (far greater than mine! :-).  

I can offer this advice, though, now that I can see the detailed images of your ornamental cherry tree's leaves:

If you want to try to save your tree (the lichens in your early photos suggest, to me, that your tree's been suffering for a while....):  be sure to do a thorough fall clean-up!  Rake up every dropped leaf that you can -- any refuse under the tree to minimize the overwintering potential of this disease.  (If you've seen this problem on the leaves in prior years:  odds are high that the disease overwinters in the leaves and refuse that fall to the ground.)  I would also recommend pruning in late winter/very early spring (while the tree is still dormant).  All fruit trees benefit from selective pruning to open up the airflow and light that reaches branches and leaves.  You mentioned that your tree hasn't been pruned in over 20 years.  It CAN be intimidating to prune a tree;  but it's a skill you can learn that will greatly benefit your trees -- they need air circulation to discourage disease development.

Here's another article from the University of Minnesota's extension services that I hope will give you some confidence & guidelines for pruning your cherry tree (can you tell that I respect this source?! They have similar climate zones... :-):

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/pruning-trees-and-shrubs#pruning-established-trees-1335961

Some key points if you decide to plunge in to prune your cherry tree:

• You can remove dead, dying or clearly diseased branches now (or at any time)
• But don't ever remove more than 1/3 of the tree -- too much loss for the tree to tolerate & survive (keep an eye on the leaves -- they are essential for survival, so you don't want to remove too many at one time)
• Other than dead wood/severely ill branches:  it's best to wait to prune until late next winter/very early spring while the tree is still dormant  March is usually a good time here. Note that this will (if your tree is still healthy enough to survive..) encourage more growth -- an investment in the future
• Annually:  it can help to prune back flowers after they die (if you don't want the fruit) -- that just saves the tree's energy for roots, health & well-being rather than fruiting/creating seeds

THANK YOU for sending the close-up photos!  I'll let you know if Professor Hazelrigg can offer more/better help for your tree.

-- Robilee

Hi Laurie and Ed!

Professor Hazelrigg reviewed your photos and cherry tree information today.

Alas:  it seems that we agree: your ornamental cherry tree may be at "end-of-life."  Here's what she offered:

"Yes, it looks like there is some cherry leaf spot in there. I doubt however that is causing the demise of the tree. The thick lichens indicate it has been suffering for a while. I don’t think it could be “brought back” with fungicide sprays. I wonder if there is anything going on lower in the plant to really affect the vigor of the tree like a canker problem. They could prune the tree this winter, fertilize the tree if it can be in the spring (can’t see what else is in there) and cross their fingers. They could also check lower for any issues in the trunk/bark. Is it in full sun?

Otherwise, I think they should probably replace the tree with something else."

I'm sorry to send you this bad news -- but the extent of the lichens on your tree suggests that it's been suffering for some time.  If you want to do everything possible for your ornamental cherry tree now, you could try doing this:

• Water during dry spells
• Mulch out to the tree line (but leave at least a few inches up close to the trunk's  bark)
• Clean up every scrap of leaves and/or refuse under your cherry tree this fall -- bag and send off to landfill....or if you dare to compost this:  do so far away from the cherry tree and make sure that you don't use that compost near your cherry tree
• Prune!  I know it seems scary & painful....but it's the right thing to do for your trees & shrubs.  Focus on removing any dead or diseased limbs now;  in the spring: focus on removing lower limbs close to the ground....and any that overlap or might block sunlight penetrating throughout the tree.

But it may be time to move on here.  If so: don't plant another cherry tree nearby for a few years' time.  I lost a lovely cherry tree that came with our home to black knot disease. I've waited over five years to finally plant a new ornamental cherry tree at least a good 300 feet away from the original one.  Wish me luck here:  the new cherry tree has been looking fabulous for the last two years.  But I still monitor and worry that black knot will show up....

Hoping this might help with your decisions.  So sorry that we can't offer a simple & quick cure,

- Robilee