TValenti:

The next time you post photos, stand back a little with the camera and give us an overall view of the tree. Closeups are fine for diseased sections, but there is no substitute for seeing the entire tree and its surroundings.

From what I can see of your cherry tree, with its apparently crossing branches, it is definately suffering from bacterial canker, which is the most likely cause of your branch dieback. It also appears that it may be in at least partial shade, and is apparently planted close to a fence. Cherry trees grow best as stand-alone specimens, in full sunlight. They should not be allowed to become "leggy", as yours apparently is, but should be pruned to a low, open vase shape if possible. Cherry trees are not like decorative specimens that can be tucked into a partially shaded corned and expected to do well. Your cherry tree will not die quickly, as bacterial disease may take years to finish off a tree, but it will be unhealthy and not very productive during the process. For now, I would prune that tree down and try to shape it for maximum exposure to sunlight.

The newly-planted peach tree also appears to be suffering from bacterial canker, which it may have brought with it from wherever you bought it. What was the source of this tree, a local nursery or bigbox store, and was it potted or rootballed when you planted it? If you want to really grow peaches, you should plant a bareroot tree in spring from one of the better mailorder/online nurseries such as Adams County in Pennsylvania. Larger, tall potted trees are to be avoided if at all possible. Peach trees, like cherry trees, require a full-sun situation, and pruning and branch spreading are essential to shape the tree for fruiting. If you can give a peach trees these conditions, you will also have to learn to spray early against the common enemies of young peaches; the plum curculio and the oriental fruit moth. You will also have to learn to properly thin the peaches, since a healthy tree will set many more peaches than the tree can handle.

Growing peaches is not easy even for the accomplished amateur, and growing them "organically" in the Eastern U.S. is a practical impossibility. Even if you bag your peaches in ziplock sandwich bags or try-on nylon "footies" as I am doing now, you must spray before bagging or the insects will damage nearly every young peach.

It would be helpful if you would disclose your location when asking these kinds of questions to that we can get an idea of the kinds of climate and insect pressures you might be facing. Zone 7a tells us something, but could be many different places across these fruited plains.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Hi Don,

Thanks for the information - you pretty much told me what we suspected. We are right accross the river from you in Potomac.

Is there a reason why we should not just cut the cherry tree down since it has probably been in decline for years (we just moved here).

Totally agree on the nursery thing - yes the peach tree came from Lowes which it probably the worst place to get them.

For the peach tree - should we try severly pruning to get below the cankered sections? Or best to just start over with better stock in the spring?

Thanks!
Terri

I think Don offers advice thinking most people prefer to "save" their trees. You have nothing to loose by starting over with some good trees from a reliable source. If the cherry is not really producing, and you need the space, I would cut it down. If not, prune as needed. Peaches grow fast so the replacement tree will catch up quickly.

If the trees could be saved I would be willing to try - but if I am just prolonging their death I would rather start new.

If I prune/start a spray program etc. is there a chance?