Go to Mizzou without going to Mizzou
Instant access
Soil Testing
and Plant Diagnostic Services
MU affiliations
Other alliances
Plant Diagnostic Clinic
573-882-3019
Small spots, often pinkish. Lesion may fall out, leaving shot hole. Does not normally require management.
Black
knot (fungus) Large black galls on branches. Prune out and destroy all infected wood in late winter, making pruning cuts at least 6 to 8 inches below infected area. Remove nearby sources of inoculum such as infections on wild cherries and plums. Consider replacing trees with more a more resistant cultivar. Fungicides containing one of the active ingredients, captan, chlorothalonil or thiophanate-methyl may be applied at pre-bloom, petal fall and three more times at 10- to 14-day intervals. Alternatively, make a dormant application of lime sulfur spray.
Gradual loss of vigor. Foliage may be sparse, and leaves may be smaller than normal, turn yellow and drop. Two common causes: poor soil aeration and freeze injury to bark. Plant in well-aerated soil. Also see freeze injury below.
Twigs may not survive the winter. If injury is to the bark of the trunk, the tree may decline slowly or bloom, then suddenly wilt and die. Many types of ornamental cherries are not reliable in Missouri's climate. Plant the hardiest varieties. Plant in a protected location.
Updated 3/31/05
On this page
Related page
On this site
Contact
