Question
cherry leaves.jpg
I have a 5 foot Stella cherry tree, planted this spring, in Iowa. It has been doing quite well. It continues to grow and get new leaves. But the leaves have begun to look as though they are being eaten, little by little, from the outer edge, inward. I can find no insects on them, however, and the edges which appear to have been eaten have a thin brown outline, almost as though the leaf is drying out at the edges. Also, some of the leaves have small brown spots which develop into holes. I keep the tree well watered and mulched with a thick layer of dried grass. Any idea what is going on? I'm including photos.
AnswerLooks like an insect is feeding on the leaves. I would spray the tree with an insecticide called Orthene. This will kill any insect that wants to feed on the leaf. You will need to spray all the foliage and I would also spray the trunk. Check with your local nursery for this product.
The spots are fungi leaf spots and are not a health problem for the tree. They may cause the leaves to drop a little sooner than normal but are not a problem.
