Montmorency Cherry Tree - Ask Extension
We planted three Montmorency cherry trees in the spring of 2022. The next year one of the trees did not do well. I assumed it was transplant shoc...
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Montmorency Cherry Tree #875623
Asked July 02, 2024, 10:56 AM EDT
We planted three Montmorency cherry trees in the spring of 2022. The next year one of the trees did not do well. I assumed it was transplant shock. I fertilized it and watered it and by the end of the year it looked like it recovered; however, there were some branches that did not come back. I cut those dead branches off at the end of the season. This year it seemed to have started off well, but recently some leaves are turning yellow and I noticed a split in the trunk (south side of tree).
Do you have any suggestions as to what I might do to save the tree?
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Robert,
I'm sorry to hear about your cherry tree.
The pictures you sent look alot like frost cracks/sunscald.
Here's a really nice infosheet that the University of Conneticut has on-line.
You mentioned that you fertilized the tree at the end of the year. This can actually make the tree put out new growth that doesn't have enough time to harden off before freezing conditions happen (the dead branches you pruned off). It might be worth trimming away the excess bark with a knife that's been dipped in 10% bleach so that it doesn't provide a home for pests. How do you water the tree? Drought stressed trees have a higher risk of frost crack/sunscald, especially if they have a southern/southwest exposure during the winter months.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Boulder County Master Gardeners
I'm sorry to hear about your cherry tree.
The pictures you sent look alot like frost cracks/sunscald.
Here's a really nice infosheet that the University of Conneticut has on-line.
You mentioned that you fertilized the tree at the end of the year. This can actually make the tree put out new growth that doesn't have enough time to harden off before freezing conditions happen (the dead branches you pruned off). It might be worth trimming away the excess bark with a knife that's been dipped in 10% bleach so that it doesn't provide a home for pests. How do you water the tree? Drought stressed trees have a higher risk of frost crack/sunscald, especially if they have a southern/southwest exposure during the winter months.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Boulder County Master Gardeners
Thank you for your response and the information that was sent. I will trim the area around the frost crack/sunscald as you recommended. This very well may be the cause of the problem.
I fertilized the tree last year in July and cut the dead branches at the end of the year. I fertilized it again this past March.
The tree is on a watering trickle system, but I have been supplementing by hand watering in extremely hot weather.
Again thank you for your help,
Bob
On Jul 3, 2024, at 6:31 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You are very welcome. I hope your cherry tree improves.
