A pair of my Cherry Trees are having problems - Ask Extension
I have 12 cherry trees. Two of my trees are having problems. One of the trees (Napolean) has a big sap blob on the trunk below the lowest major branch...
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A pair of my Cherry Trees are having problems #873862
Asked June 19, 2024, 9:27 PM EDT
I have 12 cherry trees. Two of my trees are having problems. One of the trees (Napolean) has a big sap blob on the trunk below the lowest major branches and its leaves have yellowed and some have turned brown. The other tree (Royal Anne) is much more yellowed/spotted brown and looks worse than the first. I don't see a sap blob on it. The rest of the trees are very health dark green. I have included a PDF with a some photos.
Last year the Napoleon was in fine shape, nice leaf color. Over winter, nothing out of the ordinary that I noticed. Blossomed well, set fruit (most of it has fallen off)
Last year the Royal Anne was a little yellowed at the end of the season, but it was near the end of the season and leaves were starting to change, so I didn't think much of it.
Pruning is obviously needed, but I don't think that is what is wrong here. There are wild cherries around the property as well, and they look just fine as do the other 10 trees.
Any ideas?
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi John and thanks for your pictures and question about your cherry trees. Cherry trees are notoriously hard to keep healthy in the Willamette Valley and you are lucky to have so many healthy ones. The one with the "sap" pocket or gumming can have many causes as you will see by the following article.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cherry-prunus-spp-gumming
I lean toward the bacterial disease unless you know there has been an injury to the tree. This would fit with the Royal Anne tree not looking so good either, as the bacteria can affect the tree before signs of gumming appear.
I would probably
-take down the wild cherry trees on the property, as they are actually considered an invasive species and can encourage disease on the trees you want to keep healthy
- clear the weeds from around the base of the trees and apply a layer of mulch (like arborist's chips which you can get for free and allow water to penetrate to the roots)
-keep the mulch 4-6 inches away from the trunks but you can spread it out to the drip line of the tree for weed control
-run drip irrigation around the trees so you are not wetting the leaves and branches each time you water
Here is an article which explains the bacterial canker and you will see how complicated raising cherries can be. The best you can do, if your trees match the symptoms described in the article is to follow the cultural controls mentioned.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cherry-prunus-spp-bacterial-canker
I will say that I have a pie cherry tree with this gumming that I have nursed along for 8 years, and although it isn't healthy, I get enough cherries for 2 pies a year. But I only have one tree and if it dies I will have to buy my cherries.
Best of luck,
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cherry-prunus-spp-gumming
I lean toward the bacterial disease unless you know there has been an injury to the tree. This would fit with the Royal Anne tree not looking so good either, as the bacteria can affect the tree before signs of gumming appear.
I would probably
-take down the wild cherry trees on the property, as they are actually considered an invasive species and can encourage disease on the trees you want to keep healthy
- clear the weeds from around the base of the trees and apply a layer of mulch (like arborist's chips which you can get for free and allow water to penetrate to the roots)
-keep the mulch 4-6 inches away from the trunks but you can spread it out to the drip line of the tree for weed control
-run drip irrigation around the trees so you are not wetting the leaves and branches each time you water
Here is an article which explains the bacterial canker and you will see how complicated raising cherries can be. The best you can do, if your trees match the symptoms described in the article is to follow the cultural controls mentioned.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cherry-prunus-spp-bacterial-canker
I will say that I have a pie cherry tree with this gumming that I have nursed along for 8 years, and although it isn't healthy, I get enough cherries for 2 pies a year. But I only have one tree and if it dies I will have to buy my cherries.
Best of luck,
