Cherry Blossom Tree Disease - Ask Extension
We recently mcved into a house and have cherry blossom trees. They are losing their leaves and look to have a fungus. Is this normal? What should we d...
Knowledgebase
Cherry Blossom Tree Disease #882349
Asked August 20, 2024, 4:51 PM EDT
We recently mcved into a house and have cherry blossom trees. They are losing their leaves and look to have a fungus. Is this normal? What should we do?
Carroll County Maryland
Expert Response
The green patches on the trees are lichens, (and moss) which are interesting life forms and totally harmless.
They are actually a sign of good air quality.
Here is our page on them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lichen-algae-and-moss-trees/
Ornamental cherries aren't generally long-lived trees in our landscapes, particularly if they are stressed over time. They often begin to decline at around 15-20 years. More if conditions are good.
We are seeing early defoliation on multiple types of trees this year, in part due to the intense heat and widespread drought in central Maryland in the last two growing seasons.
Cherries also can get a leaf disease called Shothole, which is causing the holes but it isn't lethal.
By this time of year, healthy trees with full, leafy canopies and healthy roots can defoliate without problem as they make more leaves than they need and have stored sugars for the winter.
We can't see the canopy of the tree but does look like you have some dead and damaged limbs with missing bark. This can suggest they are in decline but we can't say.
This page can help you to decide how they are doing:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
Do you have photos of the trees in spring to share?
You can always consider having a certified arborist, who is a tree health expert come and evaluate the trees for you.
Dead wood can be pruned out at any time of the year, but pruning in general is best done on dry days. Here is our pruning information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pruning-trees-home-landscape/
The tree also looks over-mulched:
https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2024/05/24/mulch-volcanoes-kill-trees/
It's worth noting that dead or dying trees have great value to birds, wildlife and other organisms. If their fall does not threaten people or property, you can leave them in place. I did so with a weeping cherry behind my house and for years have enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees and other birds use it for food, shelter and nesting.
Christine
They are actually a sign of good air quality.
Here is our page on them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lichen-algae-and-moss-trees/
Ornamental cherries aren't generally long-lived trees in our landscapes, particularly if they are stressed over time. They often begin to decline at around 15-20 years. More if conditions are good.
We are seeing early defoliation on multiple types of trees this year, in part due to the intense heat and widespread drought in central Maryland in the last two growing seasons.
Cherries also can get a leaf disease called Shothole, which is causing the holes but it isn't lethal.
By this time of year, healthy trees with full, leafy canopies and healthy roots can defoliate without problem as they make more leaves than they need and have stored sugars for the winter.
We can't see the canopy of the tree but does look like you have some dead and damaged limbs with missing bark. This can suggest they are in decline but we can't say.
This page can help you to decide how they are doing:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
Do you have photos of the trees in spring to share?
You can always consider having a certified arborist, who is a tree health expert come and evaluate the trees for you.
Dead wood can be pruned out at any time of the year, but pruning in general is best done on dry days. Here is our pruning information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pruning-trees-home-landscape/
The tree also looks over-mulched:
https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2024/05/24/mulch-volcanoes-kill-trees/
It's worth noting that dead or dying trees have great value to birds, wildlife and other organisms. If their fall does not threaten people or property, you can leave them in place. I did so with a weeping cherry behind my house and for years have enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees and other birds use it for food, shelter and nesting.
Christine
