Insect(s) killing my cherry tree
jetcity5150
12 years ago
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years agoDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Insect Damage to Dwarf Cherry Trees (Zone 6b)
Comments (4)Thanks for the further advice. The Japanese beetles have been wreaking havoc in our area this year, so I wouldn't doubt that they got at the tree. This particular tree was a little bit yellow following transplant while the others stayed a nice dark green. It looks like the insects are much more damaging to a plant in a weakened state. From what I've read soapy water isn't effective against the beetles but apparently cedar oil can be used as a natural deterrent. I will try it out and hopefully the plant will come back strong next spring....See MoreCherry tree...think I killed it!
Comments (11)If part of the reason for these forums is education (which it is), then I agree with the OP that the rhetoric could be toned down a little. Quickest way to get someone to turn you off and not listen to you and your cause? Piss them off with the the tone you answer their questions in. Back to the subject, I doubt the Bayer would kill the tree if it is applied per directions. That stuff you buy at the box stores is so weakened, and you only applied 3 oz. However you never mentioned how big the tree is. In defense of the OP, Japanese beetles are a terror in certain areas. They are so much here in my local area that I removed 2 crabapples a few years ago because I was tired of the swarms in the yard and the leafless tree for half the summer. So I can understand someone wanting to treat early in anticipation of the beetles. Now as far as stuff like root stimulator, we all know most of that stuff is snake oil. There ain't enough chemical in that to kill a fly, it's just made to make money off gardeners that don't know any better. A side note, all of you giving the OP a hard time...I'm sure you have a chemical free, organic lawn, right? It's amazing how many people I come across that will raise cane over 3 oz of insecticide, then apply 200 lbs of chemicals to keep weeds out of their lawn. To the OP, we all try to convince people to use chemicals only when absolutely necessary. I would have done the same thing you did. Now if it don't work, and you get beetles anyways, don't keep applying chemicals. Once they get started, there isn't any chemical available in a store that will control them. Pick them off by hand or just let them do their thing. I use chemicals only when absolutely necessary, in fact I am using them now trying to control leaf miners. And I agree, a lot of people are overusing chemicals, but part of the reason is non-education. They see 100 different brands of insecticide at Lowes, and they are marketed in such a way to make every homeowner think they need them. So we need to continue to educate the public, and maybe go after the chemical makers that are making money off gardeners that don't know any better. By the way, i would love to have a chemical free, organic body...but I got to keep putting these medicines in it to keep it going properly....See MoreInsect killing my japanese maple?
Comments (3)Thanks for the info! I did some looking up online and it looks like picking them off is a reasonable method of control. I guess that being the only tree in about 80 feet it got swarmed. From the photos do you think I should be worried about it dying? They have probably destroyed 60% or more of the foliage. I'm going to keep watching it and this winter make sure I didn't leave any silk to "girdle" it and I guess spray the area in the spring. I pulled them all off (filled a 20 ounce cup with them) and then put them between two pieces of cardboard and ran them over with my car (235 width tires. heh) and then to make double sure I set them on fire (old boy scout habit I guess). lol I love my Japanese maples. Stupid bugs. Ben...See MoreHow to kill cherry tree suckers without killing tree?
Comments (2)Unless the parent tree was own root the sucker yours came from is the sweet cherry rootstock and not the named cultivar that was presumably grafted onto it. Either the rootstock seedling happens to be a yellow cherry as well or the whole parent tree, including the roots was the yellow cultivar. Sweet cherry is actually a weed species in this region and suckers to form groves on local wooded hillsides, where it even overtakes and overtops the native red alder trees often present in quantity on the same sites. It also crosses with the much less exuberant, native bitter cherry to produce a nearly fruitless, intermediate hybrid called Puget cherry. Some ~tall examples of the latter are conspicuous when in bloom, on undeveloped land between I-5 and Lakeside School (near Seattle). It is usual to have problems with suckering and bony surface roots with plantings of sweet cherries - perhaps all the more so when these are present as rootstocks for Japanese flowering cherries. All you can do is uncover the bases of the suckers and saw them away. If there are horizontal runners that lead back to the original planting follow these back to the parent tree and saw them off at their points of origin, pull the rest up. You don't, of course want to saw off normal roots of the parent tree - just the ones that are suckering runners like aspen trees and running species of bamboos produce. This post was edited by bboy on Sat, Mar 15, 14 at 17:05...See Moretsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
12 years agojetcity5150
12 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years agoschmoo
12 years agojean001a
12 years agojoanna8841
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
6 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years agoBrad White
2 years ago
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