Most cherry tree diseases are fungal diseases. The infestation often affects not only the bark, flowers and fruits, but also the leaves. These change color, get holes, dry up and fall off or stick to the tree, depending on which disease caused the leaf color. The following are possible:
- Monilia peak drought,
- Shotgun disease,
- Gnomonia leaf tan.
Monilia peak drought
This disease is noticeable when the flowers begin to wither. As the infestation progresses, the shoot tips and leaves turn brown and dry up. The dried up flowers, leaves and twigs stick to the tree and must be removed and destroyed to avoid further infection. Otherwise, the pathogens of the Monilia peak drought can overwinter in the infested areas and spread further in the following year.
Shotgun Sickness
The leaves affected by shotgun disease only look brown from a distance. Seen up close, the leaves are covered with small, initially carmine-red, later dark brown spots. In the middle of the spots, the eponymous shotgun holes appear over time. The damaged leaves are shed from the end of June. The fungus overwinters in the affected branches, which is why they have to be cut back radically, and additional spraying measures may have to be carried out before the next flowering.
Gnomonia leaf tan
The gnomonia leaf tan only affects sweet cherry trees. The first signs of this can already be found in winter in the form of leaves that have remained on the branches. There the fungus overwinters and infects the young leaves that appear in spring. These initially get patchy lightening that slowly turns brown towards the end of July. The infected leaves must be removed. In the case of severe infestation, chemical control measures with suitable agents are sometimes unavoidable.
Tips & Tricks
Before starting to identify the disease, you should make sure that the wrong location and unfavorable weather are not responsible for the premature browning of the leaves.
