What causes cherry trees to drop their leaves, and how should it be handled?

Cherry trees originate from the temperate Himalayan region of the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, northern India, the Yangtze River basin of China, Taiwan, China, and Korea, and are cultivated all over the world. Japanese cherry blossoms are the most famous, and they are an important flowering tree species of early spring, widely used for garden viewing, and can also serve as path street trees, hedges, or be made into bonsai. Now let's take a look at what to do when a cherry tree drops its leaves!

Seasonal changes

[Cause] Generally speaking, cherry trees begin to shed their leaves in autumn, and the exact time depends on the local temperature and so on. In some places it is around September, while 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 tree to drop its leaves due to seasonal changes, so there is no need to worry; just do a good job of routine care.

Pest damage

[Cause] A relatively common cause of cherry leaf drop is pest infestation. The larvae of longhorn beetles can, under the bark at the base of the trunk, cause entire branches to drop their leaves prematurely; if the larvae are in the main root, they cause the whole tree to drop its leaves prematurely.

[Solution] At this point attention should be paid to care. If you find that the cherry tree is dropping its leaves prematurely, check whether it is due to pest infestation, and if so, spray with pesticide to treat it.

Improper watering

[Cause] Improper watering is also one of the reasons cherry trees drop their leaves. Generally speaking, dry climate, uneven water supply, lack of water, or excessive rainwater accumulation cause poor growth of the cherry tree, block the transport of nutrients, and can also lead to premature leaf drop.

[Solution] Pay attention to watering in normal times. Do not water too much, so as to avoid damaging the cherry roots, and do not water too little either; especially during the growing season, provide sufficient water for the cherry tree to grow.

Overly concentrated fertilizer

[Cause] Cherry trees do not like fertilizer, so be careful not to apply it too concentrated. Generally speaking, a nitrogen fertilizer content of 3‰ is relatively suitable. If it is not stirred evenly, the concentration at the bottom becomes higher, causing the tree to also drop its leaves prematurely.

[Solution] Fertilizing cherry trees twice a year is enough, and acidic fertilizer is preferable. One is winter fertilizer, applied in winter or early spring as organic fertilizer such as bean 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: Besides the several common causes of cherry leaf drop mentioned above, soil compaction can also prevent the exchange between the cherry roots and air, thereby causing leaves to fall. In fact, there are many reasons why cherry trees drop their leaves, so when you notice it, check carefully to see which aspect is the cause, and only then treat it accordingly. In this way, you can better care for the cherry tree.