Causes of Yellowing Leaves on Cherry Trees and How to Prevent and Treat Them
During the growing process of cherry plants, yellowing leaves often occur, and sometimes leaf drop and even tree death follow, bringing huge economic losses to fruit growers. So to prevent this from happening, you first need to understand its causes, then treat the root problem accordingly to eradicate it completely. Now let's take a look together at the causes of yellow leaves on cherry trees.
1. Yellow leaves from nutrient deficiency
When a cherry tree is deficient in nitrogen, the older leaves turn yellow, showing loss of green and yellowing before finally dropping off; iron deficiency in cherry trees can also cause yellow leaves, showing as new leaves at the top of the shoots having green veins only, while the rest of the leaf is yellow-green or yellow-white, with small and thin leaves, and the leaf margins also scorch and drop off in large numbers; zinc deficiency in the plant can also lead to yellow leaves, showing as normal leaf veins with yellowing leaf tissue, developing horizontally along the veins, strip by strip.
Prevention and treatment: For yellow leaf symptoms caused by nutrient deficiency, the best measure is to supplement the corresponding element to help the tree recover. For yellow leaves caused by various nutrient deficiencies, supplement the specific element accordingly, and the needed elements can be supplied through foliar fertilizer.
2. Yellow leaves from pests and diseases
When a plant is affected by a viral disease, the leaves show alternating dark and light yellow, with unclear edges, or bright yellow of varying sizes with striped patches; along the veins the leaves turn yellow and lose green, with fairly wide bands or fine dense reticulation, and the veins have a yellowed margin. Yellow leaves caused by root rot appear small and yellow, and the leaves turn completely yellow and scorched within a few days. When cherry saplings suffer from one or more pests, yellow leaves can also appear.
Prevention and treatment: Great importance must be attached to the prevention and control of pests and diseases. Once pest or disease damage is found, treat it promptly, and strengthen fertilizer and water management so the tree can recover.
3. Drought and lack of water
When the climate is severely dry and water is lacking, fruit trees cannot get enough water, so the leaves dry out and turn yellow due to water shortage.
Prevention and treatment: During dry weather, manage water well, water promptly, and keep the soil supplied with moisture, but do not water too much at one time. After irrigation, loosen the soil appropriately to keep the soil well aerated. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to avoid waterlogging that rots the roots and causes disease.
4. Fertilizer burn and pesticide burn
Fertilizer burn and pesticide burn often also cause yellow leaves on cherry trees. This happens when too much fertilizer is applied, when fertilizer is applied too close to the root system, or when the concentration of sprayed pesticide is too high or the dosage too large. Fertilizer burn and pesticide burn usually show as yellowing at the leaf tips and leaf edges, later turning rust-colored.
Prevention and treatment: When fertilizer burn or pesticide burn occurs, irrigate promptly to dilute the pesticide and fertilizer concentration and reduce the damage, or spray a growth regulator to relieve it, which works quite well.
The above is an introduction to the causes of yellow leaves on cherry trees and how to prevent and treat them. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.