Death of a cherry tree?

[chatlow]

See pic below. More and more leaves have developed brown spots which have eaten the leaves quite badly on a lot of them
Even the fresh ones in left of the pic have started with some spots now.
Any idea what the cause is and more importantly, is there a fix?

Thank you

 

[cpp gardener]

It looks like you might have Shothole fungus. You can spray with copper or lime sulfur. If you spray in the late winter/early spring it will prevent it next year. It usually doesn’t kill the tree but it will weaken it.

 

[Chuck]

I agree with cpp about it being shothole fungus. You can spray now but it is late in the year and the tree will soon drop all of its leaves. The most important thing you can do is to rake up ALL of the debris as it falls from the tree, making sure that there are zero leaves twigs etc on the ground next spring. Next spring spray twice, once at bud swell and again after the tree has leafed out.

 

[chatlow]

thanks both. Gutted to see it affected all these leaves. Should i cut all the bad ones off now or just leave and collect them when they fall? Would this be partly to do with bad soil/compost or just bad luck?

 

[Chuck]

You can cut the affected leaves now but they will soon drop off of the tree without any help. The main way shothole is distributed is by the wind. Also, overhead watering spreads the disease along with unclean tools, insects and birds. It is not that your soil is infected, ALL of the soil is infected to some extent. Just get rid of ALL debris, don't overhead water and spray copper fungicide

 

[chatlow]

thank you very much. Ive been overhead watering all over the summer :-/
Will stop
Will also clear up the soil and some weeds coming through around it

 

[cpp gardener]

Mulch, mulch, and more mulch. It covers the spores in the soil, reduces splashing, reduces evaporation, feeds the soil, keeps down weeds. Anywhere from 4” to 1’ deep. Use coarse chippings, shredded leaves, unfinished compost, things like that. Never cardboard, paper, sawdust.

 

[chatlow]

Mulch, mulch, and more mulch. It covers the spores in the soil, reduces splashing, reduces evaporation, feeds the soil, keeps down weeds. Anywhere from 4” to 1’ deep. Use coarse chippings, shredded leaves, unfinished compost, things like that. Never cardboard, paper, sawdust.

thank you. I plan on replacing some of the soil in this section with more compost later today. Ive only got compost but for mulch, but will grab some chippings as well. We also have a few plants in this area - would they benefit from adding some compost or is soil normally good enough?

 

[cpp gardener]

Soil is fine as long as it isn't piled on too deep.

 

[rajpalipankaj]

Hi

The brown spots on your leaves could be from a fungal infection or pests. Here's what to do:

1. Check for pests: Inspect for insects and treat with insecticidal soap if found.
2. Prune affected leaves: Cut off infected leaves to stop the spread.
3. Use a fungicide: Treat for possible fungal issues.
4. Improve watering: Water at the base, not on the leaves.
5. Clean up: Remove fallen leaves to prevent further infection.

This should help protect your plant!

Thanks!

 

[chatlow]

thanks for the advice - got rid of all leaves that had brown spots and those that have fallen. Will treat asap. We also have a camellia that is planted about 8 feet away from the cherry tree and noticed 1 or 2 brown spots on that as well :-(

Prob worth mentioning that there have been a number of slugs over summer liking the cherry tree especially. Ive been added pellets to the base and its seemed to help in a horrible way. Not sure if this would add to the problems we saw

We did have sweet peas right next to the cherry tree which have finally died off - so cleared that this morning

Question around mulch - should i remove the top later of soil and replace with more compost or just have soil? Then add the mulch - we bought bark chippings - on to this?

Sorry for the v amateur questions, very new to this

We have about 5 feet of space between the cherry tree and camellia, so would like to grow some veg ideally over winter.

 

[Plantove]

The brown spots on the leaves in your photo, especially the way they are affecting both older and newer leaves, indicate a possible fungal infection, such as leaf spot disease. Here are a few common causes and how to address them:

Possible Causes:​

1. Fungal Leaf Spot: Caused by fungi like Cercospora, Septoria, or Anthracnose, which thrive in wet conditions. These pathogens create brown or black spots on leaves, and if severe, can cause leaves to die off.
2. Bacterial Spot: Bacteria can also cause similar symptoms, with spots that may have a yellow halo around them.
3. Pests: Though this looks more like a fungal issue, some insects can also cause damage that looks like leaf spots.

Treatment and Fix:​

1. Remove Affected Leaves: Prune and dispose of all the infected leaves. Be careful to avoid spreading the spores while pruning.
2. Improve Air Circulation: Trim surrounding plants or space them out to allow better air circulation, which can help reduce the moisture on leaves and discourage fungal growth.
3. Watering Technique: Ensure you are watering at the base of the plant, avoiding getting the leaves wet, especially in the evening when they can remain damp longer.
4. Fungicide: Apply a general-purpose fungicide, especially one that targets leaf spot diseases. You can use copper-based fungicides or neem oil, which can help prevent the spread of the fungus.
5. Regular Monitoring: Keep a close eye on your plant to catch any new infections early. Remove infected leaves immediately if you see new spots forming.

If the problem persists or gets worse despite treatment, consulting with a local garden expert for a more precise diagnosis might be necessary.

 

[cpp gardener]

As far as the mulch goes, don't remove any soil, just add the mulch on top.
The camellia doesn't get shothole disease. Follow Chuck's advice and you should be fine.