Methods of controlling cherry diseases and pests

Gardeners should know the appearance of cherry tree pests and diseases on leaves (with photos) and how to treat them. Furthermore, it's important to familiarize yourself with their descriptions and bark diseases in advance. These measures can help save a tree, or even several, and preserve the harvest.

Cherry diseases

Cherry tree diseases can affect the bark or fruit. A seemingly small spot can lead to tragic consequences, including the loss of the cherry tree. Therefore, it's important to know not only what the "enemy" looks like but also how to combat it. The following types of diseases are distinguished:

• Fungal diseases are the most common. They can be identified by the death of the trunk, foliage, and fruit, and the appearance of spots. Fungi are transmitted by wind and even the use of dirty tools.
• bacterial – petioles become infected from insects, wind and undisinfected equipment;
• Viral diseases – can be carried from one site to another. These diseases are the most serious, because no control measures will help cure the tree. Therefore, to save all garden crops, it will have to be removed;
• non-infectious – the plant begins to get sick as a result of improper care, pruning, etc.

Taking these disease characteristics into account, it will be possible to choose the right treatment method and save the cherry tree.

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Monilial burn

The disease can be noticed as early as spring, infecting the foliage. It is caused by the fungus Monilia cinerea Bonord. Signs of Monilia blight include sudden browning of flower buds, branches, and leaves, which fall off. A gray coating forms on the bark and leaves of the affected tree—this is the mycelium. Its spores repeatedly infect the buds and young branches.

If the disease is already in an advanced stage, the plant appears scorched, and the damage itself is often mistaken for frostbite. Monilial blight on stone fruit trees can be recognized not only by dried-out skeletal branches—it often destroys the crop. The infection can persist in the bark of affected branches and even in mummified fruits.

To prevent fungal growth, trees should be sprayed with a 1% Bordeaux mixture during bud break. These same products should be used immediately after flowering. If circumstances warrant, treatment with Horus can be carried out in the summer and fall.

As soon as symptoms of monilial burn appear, the affected shoots and fruit should be immediately pruned and burned. Be sure to treat the cut areas with oil paint.

Gummosis

A non-infectious disease, noticeable by gummosis without the formation of noticeable necroses or ulcers. If severe, not only the branches but the entire cherry tree will dry out. With gummosis, gummosis is secreted as a response to adverse factors. These include:

• strong soil acidity;
• overwatering;
• over-fertilization;
• incorrect temperature conditions;
• unsuitable humidity level.

Bark damage and infectious diseases, whose pathogens release toxic substances, play a significant role in the development of gummosis. As a result, biochemical processes occurring in the tissues are disrupted, and the growth and development of young branches is inhibited.

Methods for combating gummosis are as follows:

1. Compliance with the rules for growing plants.
2. Avoid mechanical damage.
3. Protect from sunburn and frost damage.
4. Disinfect the cut areas with a 1% solution of copper sulfate and cover with oil paint.
5. If the soil is acidic, it needs to be limed.

Additionally, as a preventative measure, cherry trees should be sprayed each spring before the leaves emerge with products against various pathogens. These should definitely contain copper.

Leaf chlorosis

This disease causes leaves to turn yellow uniformly between the veins. This is due to a lack of nutrients for young foliage. Leaf chlorosis can occur as a result of frost cracks and bark death, the spread of pole and root rot, and necrosis.

To ensure effective disease control measures, they must be taken as early as possible. For prevention, spray trees with a 1% Bordeaux mixture or similar solution in the spring. If there is mechanical damage or cherry tree branches have been pruned, all cut areas and cracks should be disinfected with a 1% copper sulfate solution and then sealed with oil-based paint.

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Ascochyta leaf spot

Ascochyta leaf spot is caused by the fungus Ascochyta chlorospora Speg. This disease causes irregular brown spots to appear on the leaves in July, with irregular margins. Fruiting bodies of the overwintering stage of the fungus gradually form in the bark, which begins to crack and dry out. The foliage turns yellow and falls off. Because leaf fall begins prematurely, young branches do not fully mature. This causes the cherry tree to become weak, vulnerable to frost, and yields to decline. Fungal spores persist in the affected fallen leaves.

To prevent ascochyta leaf spot, preventative measures should be taken every spring. These include treating young leaves just beginning to unfurl with a 1% Bordeaux mixture. Alternatively, you can use HOM or Abiga-Peak.

If the disease has spread extensively, spray the plant with the same products in the summer, but at the appropriate time. In the fall or early spring, collect and remove the affected foliage.

Clasterosporium (shot hole)

Another fungal disease of cherry trees. You can tell the tree is infected by the foliage. Small red spots appear on the foliage, gradually becoming lighter in the center. The edges are crimson with indistinct borders.

The tissue of the affected leaf cracks and falls out, becoming perforated—hence the disease's second name. If Clasterosporium blight has already spread, buds, cherry blossoms, and young branches are affected. Round, reddish-purple spots form on them, with a lighter center. The bark gradually dries out, and shallow ulcers appear, oozing gum. Scaly, reddish-brown spots appear on affected fruits.

The fruits lose their shape, dry out slightly, and are unfit for consumption. Leaves affected by clasterosporium leaf spot fall prematurely, and branches dry out. This disease weakens the cherry tree, and the fruit production decreases.

To combat clasterosporium leaf spot, spray the cherry trees with Bordeaux mixture during the first bud break. Prepare a solution at a rate of 100 g per bucket of water. Repeat the treatment after flowering. Spray again after 1.5-2 weeks. The final treatment should be carried out no later than three weeks before harvest.

Coccomycosis or reddish-brown spot

The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Coccomyces hiemalis Higgins. It often appears during flowering, affecting the foliage. Brown spots form on the upper surface of the leaf, and a pinkish bloom develops on the underside. The spores infect adjacent leaves and cherry cherries.

Affected leaves turn yellow, then brown, dry up, and eventually fall off. This leaves the trees vulnerable to frost. White pustules with a pink border can be seen on the fruit. The fruit also changes appearance, developing brown spots with a white coating. Coccomycosis appears in the first ten days of June.

To prevent the spread of the disease, it's essential to take ongoing preventative measures and promptly treat the first symptoms. In the first case, it's necessary to remove fallen leaves and trim dead parts of the tree. This is a necessary measure, as these dead parts harbor the coccomycosis pathogen.

To treat the disease, spray the cherry tree with a solution of ferrous sulfate, prepared at a rate of 300 grams per bucket of water, before flowering. After flowering, treat the tree with Horus, using only 2 grams per 10 liters of water. Repeat the treatment after three weeks. If the disease persists, spray the tree again 20 days after harvest.

Cherry rust

Brown-red or red-orange swellings appear on the leaves. They resemble pads. Rust is caused by a specific fungus, whose spores spread throughout the plant in the shortest possible time. As a result, leaf fall occurs significantly earlier, and the harvest is difficult to describe as abundant.

To minimize the risk of rust, it's important to practice regular preventative measures. This includes collecting and burning fallen leaves. If this isn't possible, treatment should be started immediately as soon as signs of the disease appear.

To achieve this, spray with copper oxychloride at a rate of 80 g per bucket of liquid before and immediately after the growing season. After harvesting, treat the crown with Bordeaux mixture at a concentration of 1%.

Phyllostictosis (brown spot)

The disease is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta prunicola (Opiz.) Sacc. As a result of the disease, brown spots with a narrow dark border appear on the bark. Gradually, the necrotic tissue begins to crack and then falls out, leaving holes in the bark. If the brown spotting has already reached a severe stage, the bark begins to shrivel, and the foliage turns yellow and falls prematurely. However, the infection remains in the fallen leaves.

To prevent the disease, remove any affected parts of the cherry tree and burn them. If the disease has already occurred, treat it with Bordeaux mixture, mixing 100 g of it per bucket of water. Spray during the first phase of bud break. Repeat the treatment after the growing season has ended. Treat the cherry trees again after 1.5-2 weeks. The final spraying should be no later than 21 days before harvest.

If the infestation is already severe, another treatment should be performed after the foliage has fallen. This will require a 3% Bordeaux mixture.

Bacteriosis (cherry canker or cancer)

This is a bacterial disease. It affects fruit trees aged 3 to 8 years. The bacteria are spread by wind or rain. During the winter, the microorganisms continue to thrive in the tree's buds and blood vessels.

Ulcers appear on the branches of the infected plant, from which gummosis begins. Brown or black spots of irregular shapes with a yellow border become visible on the fruits and leaves. Fruit stalks become covered with brown ulcers.

Infected trees experience wood rot and leaf loss. In some cases, the tree may die completely.

There are no effective methods for combating the canker. That's why it's also known as cherry canker. Each cherry variety is susceptible to the disease differently. However, trees that receive adequate nitrogen rarely become infected.

Verticillium wilt

The fungal disease manifests itself in early spring and most often affects saplings and young trees. One sign is cracked and peeling bark. Flowers begin to darken and wilt, and branches and trunks begin to suffer from gummosis. The younger the tree, the faster verticillium wilt spreads. Cherry trees under seven years old will die within a year. Older trees will take three to eight years to eradicate.

To combat verticillium wilt, you'll need to dig up the soil. Care must be taken, however, as damaging the roots will allow the fungus to enter the wound and spread throughout the tree. Before the leaves emerge, treat the cherry tree with cuproxate or Bordeaux mixture at a 3% concentration.

Once the leaves emerge, you'll need to prepare another solution, but at a weaker concentration of 1%. Spraying should be done after flowering, 14 days later, in August, and in mid-autumn. It's important to do this before the leaves fall. If the disease persists, chemical treatments will be necessary.

The areas from which gum is leaking should be thoroughly cleaned and then sealed with a mixture of mullein, clay, and 2% copper sulfate. Cut areas should be covered with garden pitch or oil paint. In the fall, whitewash the cherry tree trunks with lime and copper sulfate.

Gum flow

A common disease, not an infection. Cherries often suffer from it because they grow thicker. This causes various enzymes to transform within the plant cells, resulting in the formation of gum.

It's easy to tell if a cherry tree is infected—a gum begins to ooze from the trunk, which hardens to resemble a transparent, glassy formation. To avoid this problem, it's important to grow the cherry tree properly. Bark wounds should be sealed with garden pitch.

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Scab

As a result of the attack, brown spots appear on the leaves, which curl up. They gradually dry out and begin to crumble. Unripe fruits stop growing and dry out.

To control the pest, dig up the soil, including the leaves, in early spring and fall. Fallen cherries and leaves should also be removed and destroyed. The tree also requires three sprays: when buds begin to appear, after flowering, and after harvest. Copper oxychloride (dissolve 40 g in a bucket of water) or Bordeaux mixture at a 1% concentration can be used.

Cherry pests

In addition to the risk of disease, fruit trees face another threat: pests. It's important to familiarize yourself with photos of cherry tree pests and methods for controlling them. Several species of insects feed on the tree, so it's important to familiarize yourself with their photos in advance to ensure proper control.

Aphid

A small insect, no more than 3 mm long. Black and shiny, it feeds on the sap of young leaves. Aphids reproduce in the fall by laying eggs, which overwinter at the base of buds, hatching in the spring. They develop and grow by feeding on the sap of buds, and then branches and leaves. As a result, the foliage begins to curl, and the shoots lose their shape. Several generations of the parasite can develop in a single season. Cherry trees are most affected in early and mid-summer.

Control measures include spraying the crop with Fufanon at the bud break stage. If aphids are numerous, this product can be used after the crop has finished flowering, as well as in the summer.

Ants

These pests can significantly damage the harvest, attracted by the sweet aroma of the fruit. Furthermore, ants carry aphids, meaning the crop can suffer from an infestation of two types of parasites.

To get rid of these "pests," you need to repel them from your cherry trees and destroy the anthill. These methods involve the use of:

1. A trapping belt. You can buy one or make one yourself. It has a sticky layer, and the trap should be secured 80 cm above the ground.
2. A wool belt soaked in carbolic acid. This smell repels ants. Change it every 72 hours, and hang it at a height of 0.8 m.
3. Bundles of wormwood, garlic shoots, etc. This method has one drawback: the herbs dry out quickly, so be careful. Otherwise, the parasites will quickly return.
4. Mechanical barriers.
5. Whitewashing the cherry tree trunk. This causes the ants to stick and become unable to move.
6. Specialized products. But their selection must be approached with caution.

To destroy anthills in the garden, you need ready-made products or folk methods (hot ash, kerosene, carbolic acid).

Cherry fly

A small pest, 5 mm long, it can be identified by its black color and a yellow-orange shield on its thorax. The wings are transparent, but have four dark transverse stripes. The cherry blossom fly larva is white, slightly pointed at the front, and 6 mm long. The straw-yellow cocoon resembles a barrel, no more than 4.5 mm long. The parasite overwinters in a cocoon buried in the ground at a depth of 25 mm.

After cherry trees bloom, the flies emerge from their pupae and begin feeding on the sap of the early fruits. Cherry flies lay their eggs in the fruit, and the hatched larvae then feed on the fruit's pulp. If the pests are numerous, they can cause significant damage to the orchard.

To get rid of the pest, spray the cherry tree with Fufanon after the growing season. If there are numerous flies, a second treatment will be necessary. However, this should be done no later than three weeks before the fruit ripens.

Leaf roller

A nocturnal moth with a wingspan of up to 1.6 cm. The forewings are brightly colored with a golden-brown pattern. The hindwings are dark brown with a yellow-gold fringe. The white caterpillars live under the bark of the plant and feed there. They chew through the vertical fruits and contaminate them with their waste. Gum secretion can be seen at the damaged areas. If the pests are numerous, the cherry tree will die within 2-3 years.

To protect the tree from leaf rollers, you'll need to set traps. You should also spray with Fufanon in late spring and early summer and during the summer. It's important to clear the trunk of dead bark and whitewash it with a chalk suspension containing any organophosphorus preparation.

Plum codling moth

A dark-brown, nocturnal butterfly with a wingspan reaching 17 mm. The hind wings are brownish-gray, and a light-gray stripe can be seen on the forewings. The orange-red caterpillar with a brown head is 14 mm long. They overwinter in web-like cocoons located in cracks in the bark or in the topsoil.

In the spring, they begin to pupate, and in early summer, they begin to fly. The flight period lasts about 30 days. Three weeks after the vegetation period, the females lay one egg in each fruit, and a week later, caterpillars hatch from them. They feed on the fruit.

Before pest control, trees should be sprayed with Fufanon in the spring during bud break and after the growing season. Fallen fruit should be collected and destroyed. Traps can be set out a week after flowering.

Other cherry tree problems

Besides diseases and pest infestations, there are a number of reasons why a crop fails to grow or produces a bountiful harvest. These are generally related to the regional climate or the specific variety.

Once you understand the cause of your cherry tree's wilting and lack of fruit, you can choose the right way to correct the situation. This is essential for maintaining the tree's health and ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Insecticides and insect control products

To rid cherry trees of pests, spraying is necessary. Solutions are prepared for this purpose, which can be applied to the entire tree. Three treatments are usually sufficient, provided all schedules are followed.

Insecticides are used to control pests because they can kill several pest species at once. A single spray is often sufficient to prevent unwanted infestations in the garden. The application methods for specific products, as well as their duration of action, are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Gardeners most commonly use Fufanon, Intavir, Karbofos, and others.

Growing healthy cherries that thrive and produce a good harvest requires effort. Fruit trees often suffer from diseases and pests, so preventative measures are essential.