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renovate a weeping cherry

17 years ago

A grand old weeping cherry tree came with the house we bought last summer. When we moved in, I noticed that several of the branches looked dead but many others had leaves. The whole tree had a bit of a sad look to it.

But now it is coming in to bloom and it is the first time we have seen it this way. It's just a beautiful old tree. The trunk is about 10' tall. It then splits to 3 big branches which then divide out to make a canopy. The tree is about 30' tall. Part of the root system seems to go under the garage. The rest is currently covered by a gravel "patio", compliments of the previous owner.

I would say 75% of the smaller branches have blooms. The rest are dead. The bark of the trunk has a big split (~ 1'x2') in it about half way up. It looks a little rotten inside.

What are the chances this tree can be saved? I plan to prune away the dead branches. What is the best time of year to do this? Is there anything I can do about the diseased-looking split in the bark? Is there anything I can do to help the tree in general, given that it has probably been in that same spot for 20+ years.

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Comments (2)

harleysilo
17 years ago
Ha I have the same situation at my house, we moved in last summer. I'll take a pic and post tonight, so should you so we can really judge what you are talking about!
Dibbit
17 years ago
Cherry trees don't last very long (25-30 years) and are prone to borers and other "weeping" problems that are usually NOT amenable to fixing. That said, post a photo, and the experts here can give better advice.

If you REALLY want to do something NOW, then taking off the really dead branches - if you have little pruning experience, look up pruning and branch removal, so you don't make a worse mess by doing it wrong - would be a place to start. If they are dead, then you can do it now. If there is any question, then wait until it is clear they won't leaf out, and then prune them off.

If you have ANY question in your mind about the height of the tree and your safety, then DON'T DO IT. Ladders aren't safe to climb on without precautions and due care for your safety and that of any spectators. It's cheaper to hire an arborist - get a certified one! - than it is to pay hospital bills. You did say the tree was sbout 30' tall - that's a LONG way to fall.
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