Knowledgebase
Akebono Cherry trees and Portuguese Laurel Being Eaten and Dying #873320
Asked June 16, 2024, 2:16 PM EDT
Yamhill County Oregon
Expert Response
It appears like both the cherry trees and the laurel shrub are being affected by something called "shot hole". It can be caused by a bacterium and also by a fungal infection. Both of these thrive in cool wet springs like we've had this year. University of Maryland Extension publication, "Cherry Shot Hole Disease" has more extensive information about the diseases.
I'm wondering if the cherry trees don't have additional problems. The first photo looks like "Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot". This link is to an OSU Extension plant disease handbook page. Read through the description then look carefully at your trees to see if the description matches the damage you are seeing.
You can also take samples of the affect leaves and twigs into the Yamhill County OSU Extension office so that a Master Gardener can look at physical samples to be positive that these are the two issues affects your trees and shrubs. That way armed with positive identification of the problem and knowledge, you can contact arborists or landscapers for spraying services.
These problems are a result of our lovely cool rainy spring. The fungicides necessary are not available to homeowners. Contact arborists and/or a larger landscape company with the skills necessary to spray. University of Minnesota Extension has a publication, "How to Hire a Tree Care Professional". The regional organization for arborists, "Pacific Northwest ISA" also has good information on choosing an arborist.
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On Jun 17, 2024, at 9:05 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: