Mature ornamental cherry tree leaves turn yellow - Ask Extension
My mature cherry tree leaves turn spotted yellow. Is this spotted leaves fungal disease? How do I treat?
What is the frequency of treatment du...
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Mature ornamental cherry tree leaves turn yellow #807166
Asked August 20, 2022, 10:20 AM EDT
My mature cherry tree leaves turn spotted yellow. Is this spotted leaves fungal disease? How do I treat?
What is the frequency of treatment during the season from April to frost?
Thank you for your help. Your service is always wonderful to public when we need you.
Frederick County Maryland
Expert Response
My Yoshino cherry tree is about 30 years old. It used NOT to drop yellow leaves this early, in August. I live in the rural area of Frederick. I have red maple tree next to it. All trees have enough spaces among them, though being old, they spread out.
I would like to ask:
1. is it fungal disease
2. If it is how do I treat it. Would UMD extension suggest any reputable tree services?
3. How often the treatments should be? For example number of times a year
4. I have well water and live next to a creek; is there any chemical that I should not use to hurt the environment and my own well water.
Thanks
Leave on the tree still
We aren't certain what is causing these symptoms, but it likely isn't a serious threat to long-term tree health. This late in the season, a fungicide would not be warranted because the tree had all season to store enough energy for next year's growth, so late-season leaf loss doesn't deprive them of critical photosynthesis. Plus, since we can't confirm this is caused by a fungus, we can't recommend a particular treatment since not all fungicides are effective on every disease.
For now, just keep an eye on the tree's growth and let us know if the symptoms worsen next year. Perhaps this is a response to environmental stress like a change in soil conditions or damage to the trunk or selected branches. Thirty years old is pretty mature for a flowering cherry, since they tend to be somewhat short-lived (maybe 20-30 years or so) in suburban conditions. That isn't to say it's doomed to decline soon, but that it might be more easily stressed than it would have been as a younger, more vigorously-growing tree.
If you'd like to have the tree assessed by a certified arborist, they might recognize a source of tree stress during an in-person inspection. They won't necessarily be able to intervene to treat all ailments, though a few companies have their own diagnostic labs where they might be able to isolate a particular pathogen. Even in that scenario, not all pathogens require treatment. We don't make recommendations for particular businesses, but the link above lets you search for credentialed candidates. Some arborists are employed by tree-care companies while others consult independently.
Miri
For now, just keep an eye on the tree's growth and let us know if the symptoms worsen next year. Perhaps this is a response to environmental stress like a change in soil conditions or damage to the trunk or selected branches. Thirty years old is pretty mature for a flowering cherry, since they tend to be somewhat short-lived (maybe 20-30 years or so) in suburban conditions. That isn't to say it's doomed to decline soon, but that it might be more easily stressed than it would have been as a younger, more vigorously-growing tree.
If you'd like to have the tree assessed by a certified arborist, they might recognize a source of tree stress during an in-person inspection. They won't necessarily be able to intervene to treat all ailments, though a few companies have their own diagnostic labs where they might be able to isolate a particular pathogen. Even in that scenario, not all pathogens require treatment. We don't make recommendations for particular businesses, but the link above lets you search for credentialed candidates. Some arborists are employed by tree-care companies while others consult independently.
Miri
