What to do if the bark and fruit on a cherry tree have cracked

Cherries

If, while exploring the garden in spring, you discover that the bark on a cherry tree has split, exposing the trunk, this discovery should not be ignored, as it could damage the entire garden. The wound attracts fungal and other infections, which gradually affect the entire tree and spread to neighboring trees. It's best to begin treatment immediately with medications or folk remedies. To protect the rest of the garden, preventative measures are essential.

Causes of cracks

Stone fruit trees are prone to bark cracking, so cherry trees need to be monitored closely, especially in the spring after the snow melts. If you discover an injured tree, inspect all nearby trees. Cracking can be caused by a variety of factors, from fertilization errors to diseases and pests.

Weather conditions

The main reason why cherry tree bark cracks due to weather is sudden temperature changes. Typically, in late winter, the tree warms up during the day from the sun, which initiates the natural liquefaction of the sap. At night, when the temperature drops sharply, the trunk freezes again. The wood loses density and may crack in the most affected areas.

Cherry is a delicate crop that depends on soil and air moisture. Excessive rainfall or a low water table can cause the root system to become waterlogged, reducing yield. If the soil doesn't dry out regularly, the tree withers and dies.

Another common cause of cracking is a lack of preparation for winter. Beginner gardeners make the same mistakes that lead to tree diseases, crop loss, or plant death.

Mistakes in preparing cherries for winter:

Late nitrogen fertilization stimulates the growth of young shoots, meaning the wood on them doesn't have time to mature. This leads to branch dieback or bark cracking in some areas. Nitrogen fertilization is discontinued in mid-summer.
Moisture-replenishing watering is done late. Cherry trees need to be watered generously (5-6 buckets per tree) in late September. If this is done later, the plant will have difficulty surviving the winter.
Late, excessive pruning. Incorrect and untimely crown shaping slows down the maturation of the wood. This can cause the bark to crack with the onset of spring.

Attention!

When you first notice a bark crack on your cherry tree, don't do anything right away. First, carefully trim the edge of the crack with a sharp knife to assess the extent of the damage. A light green or white color indicates healthy wood that will heal on its own over the summer. A brown cut requires prompt treatment and preventative measures to save the dying bark.

Pests

Cracks in the bark can appear due to insect activity. Many of these insects damage the wood, leading to gum secretion and the death of sections of the bark. Damage to the trunk or branches reduces frost resistance. The tree's ability to survive winter frosts becomes more difficult, and yield gradually declines.

The main cherry tree pests that cause cracks are:

Bark leaf roller. Small brown moths lay their eggs under the bark. Soon, caterpillars hatch from the eggs and begin feeding on the wood. The affected areas begin to secrete gum, clog the pores, and the plant is starved of nutrients and dies. A characteristic sign is brown, lumpy bumps on the trunk and branches (the insects' waste products).
Brown spider mite. This pest lays large numbers of reddish eggs on the surface of branches, giving them a brownish appearance. The hatched caterpillars feed on young buds and leaves. They slow shoot growth, disrupting metabolic processes and causing the bark to crack.
Bark beetle. It burrows deep into wood to leave its young. If neglected, branches break off and the bark cracks.

Diseases

Cherry trees are often susceptible to fungal and other infections that penetrate through cracks in the bark. These diseases lead to reduced yields, leaf drop, stunted growth, and wood damage.

Common cherry diseases:

False tinder fungus. This fungus settles on damaged areas of the lower trunk. It grows as yellow-brown growths. It fills the wood from the inside with rot, softening it.
Gummosis. A large amount of gum is released at the site of the crack. Over time, the branches begin to dry out, then the trunk.
Moniliosis. A fungal infection develops in damaged areas of the trunk or branches. Spores quickly spread throughout the tree, causing it to die.
Bacterial canker. An incurable disease that causes bark and wood to die.

Treatment of cracks in cherries

If preventative measures fail and the bark cracks, it's necessary to assess the extent of the damage. The depth and size of the crack are crucial. The tree can heal minor wounds on its own; all it takes is disinfecting them with a 3% copper sulfate solution. However, if the wound is deep and extensive, without proactive intervention, the tree will die or face a long recovery period.

First aid

If a deep crack has already appeared in a tree, it must be treated quickly. Any delay will result in insect pests or infection settling in the wound, which will require much more effort to repair. To treat the crack, you'll need a sharp knife to remove the dead wood.

Events:

Remove the cracked surface with a knife. If the wood inside is brown, cut away until healthy, light green or white wood is exposed.
After removing the affected tissue, clean the surface with sandpaper.
Disinfect the wound and the entire surface of the bark around it with 3-5% copper sulfate or another preparation containing copper.
Fill the crack with garden pitch. If it's too deep, use a cement mixture.
Wrap the wound with a piece of burlap and secure it with wire on top.

Treatment with drugs

https://youtu.be/mUph0qquKmw

Depending on the severity of the wood damage, the appropriate treatment is selected. At any gardening store, a salesperson can help you choose the right product for your specific situation. Most of these are used as preventative measures against bark cracking, fungal, and bacterial infections.

List of drugs:

Bordeaux mixture;
copper sulfate;
iron sulfate;
urea;
Copper-containing wound healing agents – Kurzat, Ordan, Abiga.

Folk remedies

Hundreds of years ago, gardeners used homemade potions and decoctions based on cow manure and natural fungicides to treat trees. Their advantage is that they are inexpensive, and their natural ingredients are environmentally friendly.

Folk recipes for medicinal mixtures:

Mix 1 kg of clay with mullein. Apply the mixture to the crack and cover with gauze or a bandage to prevent it from being washed away by rain.
Mix 2 kg of cow manure with 1 kg of dry lime, 1 kg of wood ash, and a glass of fine river sand. Fill the crack with the mixture and secure with burlap or a bandage.

Attention!

If the wood on the cut surface is brown rather than green, it must be completely removed before applying the putty. Even a small damaged area will lead to reinfection of the wound.

Preventive measures

Constantly monitoring the bark condition and promptly treating damaged and diseased trees will help prevent cracks in garden plants. First and foremost, it's essential to regularly inspect the entire garden for pests and diseases. Preventative treatments are essential every spring to avoid the need for tree treatment.

Action plan:

In autumn, surround the trunk with a metal mesh to protect it from rodents.
Dig up the tree trunk circle before winter.
Prevent sunburn by whitewashing the tree trunk and skeletal branches in the fall.
Get rid of damaged, dried branches in a timely manner.
In the spring, it is essential to spray the garden with fungicidal and insecticidal preparations for preventative purposes.

Causes of cracked cherries

Fruit often bursts due to excess moisture. This can be caused by overwatering or a rainy summer. If the tree lacks water early in the ripening period, followed by prolonged downpours, the fruit always ends up with cracks. This occurs because the berries rapidly expand, preventing the thin skin from stretching, causing them to split.

Reviews

Ivan, 43 years old

In my garden, to prevent cracks, I always furrow my cherry trees in their fifth year. Using a sharp knife, I cut a 15 cm long strip along the trunk, 2-3 mm deep. I do this as far as I can reach. This reduces the stress on the bark and helps build additional trunk thickness. Cracks never form.

Marina, 38 years old

To prevent cherry tree cracking, I always water the trunk and branches in the evening in the spring to prevent the bark from freezing. When the temperature drops at night, a crust of ice forms on the surface, protecting the wood from frost.