What to Do When a Cherry Blossom Tree Drops Its Leaves? Cause Analysis and Solutions
The cherry blossom tree is native to the temperate Himalayan region of the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, northern India, the Yangtze River basin of China, Taiwan, China, and Korea. It is cultivated all over the world, and the Japanese cherry blossom is the most famous. It is an important flowering tree species of early spring and is widely used for garden ornamentation, and can also be used as a roadside tree along paths, a hedge, or made into bonsai. Now let us take a look at what to do when a cherry blossom tree drops its leaves!
Seasonal changes
[Cause] Generally speaking, cherry blossoms begin to shed their leaves in autumn, and the specific time depends on the local temperature and so on. In some places it is after September, and in others it is November, but overall this is brought about by the change of seasons.
[Solution] It is a normal phenomenon for a cherry blossom tree to drop its leaves due to seasonal changes, so there is no need to worry; simply do the daily care work well.
Pest damage
[Cause] A relatively common cause of cherry blossom leaf drop is pest infestation. The larvae of longhorn beetles can, under the bark at the base of the trunk, cause an entire branch to shed its leaves early, and if the larvae are in the main root, they cause the whole tree to shed its leaves early.
[Solution] At this time, attention should be paid to care. If you find that the cherry blossom is dropping its leaves early, check to see whether it is due to pest infestation, and if so, spray with chemicals to treat it.
Improper watering
[Cause] Improper watering is also one of the reasons cherry blossoms drop their leaves. Generally speaking, dry climate, uneven water supply, lack of water, or excessive rainwater accumulation cause poor growth of the cherry blossom tree, block nutrient transport, and can also lead to early leaf drop.
[Solution] Pay attention to watering in normal times. Do not water too much, so as not to damage the cherry blossom root system, and do not water too little either; especially during the growing period, provide sufficient water for the cherry blossom to grow.
Fertilizer applied too strongly
[Cause] Cherry blossoms do not like fertilizer, so be careful not to apply fertilizer too strongly. Generally speaking, a nitrogen fertilizer content of 3‰ is relatively suitable. If it is not stirred evenly, the concentration at the bottom becomes greater, which can also cause the tree to drop its leaves early.
[Solution] It is enough to fertilize cherry blossoms twice a year, and acidic fertilizer is preferable. One is winter fertilizer, applied in winter or early spring with organic fertilizers such as soybean cake, chicken manure, and decomposed fertilizer. The other is after the flowers fall, applying quick-acting fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and superphosphate.
Note: In addition to the several common causes of cherry blossom leaf drop mentioned above, soil compaction can also prevent the exchange between the cherry blossom root system and air, thereby causing leaves to drop. In fact, there are many reasons why cherry blossoms drop their leaves, so when you discover it, pay attention to checking which aspect the cause lies in, and then treat the root cause accordingly; only in this way can you better care for the cherry blossom.