Question
false cherry tree
Hi there,I'm THRILLED to find you on internet and need your advice desperately! I have a false cherry (I think) tree which is about 14 years old. It has pink blossoms and red berries later on. There is very little top soil and below that is pure sand (that's how the resort sited the trailers.
Three years ago the lawn mower gashed the tree and you'll see the gash in tree #2. I put tree goop on it. It was OK until last summer when the leaves started to drop off. This year there are dead branches, especially just above the gash.
Love this tree. What to do??????????? Really appreciate your advice. PS If we have to get rid of it, what kind of fast growing tree that likes very quick drainage would be good for the site - full sun. Thanks Susan
AnswerI do not think the damage to the trunk killed the tree. This type damage will allow decay fungi into the woody cells but decay fungi will not attack the living cells and do not kill tree. First check to see if the tree is still alive--try to reach an upper and outer branch--crape a small bit of bark off the branch end and if the color under the bark is still green the branch is still alive . If the color under the bark is brown the branch is dead at this pint on the branch. If not green continue down the branch scraping at intervals until you find green or reach the main trunk. Try other branch if you do not find green. If it is still alive I would try mulching around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. This will kelp hold moisture around the roots. Then I wound water the tree every fourth day with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do this for a month then once a week if there are leaves budding out.
Check and see if there was a lawn fertilize used in the lawn that goes by the name Weed and Feed. These granular combination weed and feed type fertilizer contain a herbicide that will kill trees. The water may help flush the herbicide but it maybe too late.
The other thing could be a disease or a virus but usually these will show other symptoms such as oozing sap or wilting foliage. Usually if all the foliage is effected there is something damaging the root system such as the herbicide.
As too a possible replacement I would check with a local tree nursery and give them the site information (soil etc) and what type of tree you want (flowering etc.) and they can best advise you of a tree for your locality.
Your treatment of the wound was fine the wound dressing was not necessary but in any case this did not contribute to the loss of foliage. The wound does not seem to go all the way around the trunk so there is enough water being transported to the foliage to not be a problem.
Sorry that is about all I can think of with this description. I hope this helps.
