Question

bing cherry tree   QUESTION: I have this lichen or something on my fruit trees, 2 cherry and an apple. The apple lost all of its leaves after budding and leaving and hasn't shown life for about 4 weeks. Now this is on my cherry trees and moving around my yard to all my trees. Now my Willow has something going on that is different but it also has the green stuff too. It has something going on in the bark that looks like red tentacles growing out of the place that looks like bark has fallen off. Please help I think that they all might be dead soon.

ANSWER: Hi Brad,  The lichen does not bother plants, you have a different problem going on.  I can not tell for sure but you do not have a soil line around your trees just grass?  Falling leaves is a sign of not enough water.  It has been so hot this year in areas not usually so, that the plants are needing more water.  I gather you are up north and it has been very hot there just like here in Florida.  The other thing you have with bark fallen off is more like a fungus where it is getting too much water and it is rotting.  I really need more information.  kathy

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Apple tree 1   QUESTION: Here is the pic of the apple tree that really looked fine in early spring but then lost everything after it budded and now is devoid of anything green except for the lichen which is more grey-green I guess, and it is all over the tree in pathes. Not completely covered by any means, but it is on every branch.

ANSWER: I see grass around the tree that needs to be removed so air can get to the roots.  This tree like your willow may have the same problem  there should be a ring around your drip line of trees that has no mulch, not stone, no nothing but soil free of weeds.  And if it is a tree you can mulch no closer than six inches to the base.  Pit fruits do not like a lot of water.  kathy

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leaves   QUESTION: I thought I would post a pic of the leaves too. These are from the bing cherry tree but are pretty indicitave of the rest of the fruit trees. NOt the willow. Does this look go with your last diagnosis?

Answer
Hi Brad, Yes, that is my best answer, you have fungus on the leaves and your tree is unhealthy, you need to put on a fungicide and cure the problem, correct watering, either more or less, only you know and remove any mulch, grass or weeds from around the trees. Making your tree healthy removes all the problems.  It is telling you I am unhappy.   kathy