wild cherry trees - Ask Extension
why are the wild cherry trees dying almost all on my property are dead or are dying? thks douglas crawley
Knowledgebase
wild cherry trees #922725
Asked December 07, 2025, 4:35 PM EST
why are the wild cherry trees dying almost all on my property are dead or are dying? thks douglas crawley
Vermilion County Illinois
Expert Response
Hello Douglas,
The cause of death of wild cherry trees on your property could be any number of things alone or in combination. Do you see any signs of disease (such as visible fungal growth) or insect tunneling on the trunk and/or limbs of the affected trees? Could these trees have been suffering from some sort of abiotic stress, such as the drought stress, due to the dry conditions we experienced in east central IL through much of the later growing season?
Do you have a recollection of the symptoms that occurred over the course of the past growing season? Were there some limbs that didn't leaf out at all, or did you see premature leaf drop? Did there appear to be any overall pattern to the trees that were affected? Do you have any pictures of the tree canopy and close-ups of the trunk area from when the trees were growing?
Answers to those questions, as well as some pictures, may help narrow down the possible causes. But at this point in the year, you may need to wait until after dormancy-break in the spring to assess the extent of the die-off and potential cause(s).
Regards,
Talon Becker
Illinois Extension
The cause of death of wild cherry trees on your property could be any number of things alone or in combination. Do you see any signs of disease (such as visible fungal growth) or insect tunneling on the trunk and/or limbs of the affected trees? Could these trees have been suffering from some sort of abiotic stress, such as the drought stress, due to the dry conditions we experienced in east central IL through much of the later growing season?
Do you have a recollection of the symptoms that occurred over the course of the past growing season? Were there some limbs that didn't leaf out at all, or did you see premature leaf drop? Did there appear to be any overall pattern to the trees that were affected? Do you have any pictures of the tree canopy and close-ups of the trunk area from when the trees were growing?
Answers to those questions, as well as some pictures, may help narrow down the possible causes. But at this point in the year, you may need to wait until after dormancy-break in the spring to assess the extent of the die-off and potential cause(s).
Regards,
Talon Becker
Illinois Extension
