Sour Cherry Tree

Question: A customer sent me several pictures of her sour cherry tree that got hit by spray in the spring of 2023 when a field by them was being sprayed by Star of the West.   She indicates that it has been struggling ever since and by the pictures you can see that it has both green leaves and dead leaves.    Would like your opinion if you think it might come out of it?  Thank you.
Joanne Silvia

responder: Lindsay Brown  Replied September 10, 2024, 9:03 AM EDT
response: Hello Joanne,  Based on these photos, I am unable to determine a cause. If you can submit up close photos of the leaves, that would be helpful.  Did the spray drift immediately impact her tree last year? Did she get information on what chemical or type of chemical was spray? Typically, herbicide damage appears as smaller "mouse ear" like leaves that appear silvery/narrow. Here's an article on that: Glyphosate damage in apple and cherry orchards - MSU Extension If some of the leaves are appearing brown/dead that could be due to disease rather than spray injury.  If you can provide additional pictures, I can better assist in identifying the issue.  Best,

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 11, 2024, 8:56 AM EDT
response: Good Morning,   The chemical sprayed was A pre-emergent called Balance Flexx and I have attached several close-up pictures of the leaves.  Also, one thing the customer forgot to mention is in the early spring of this year the tree looked pretty good and then they had a hard frost and they believe that did not help the situation.   Thank you for all of your help!     Joanne Silvia Office Manager MSU Extension – Saginaw County Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital Center of Hope 723 Emerson Street Saginaw, MI  48607 Phone: 989.907-6520 Email: <personal data hidden>          MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.   Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.   From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 9:04 AM To: Silvia, Joanne  Subject: Re: Sour Cherry Tree (#0154496)

responder: Lindsay Brown  Replied September 11, 2024, 3:17 PM EDT
response: Hello,  Thank you for the pictures and information. This does not look like herbicide damage. Herbicide gets stored overwinter and will damage the leaves as the emerge. It would have been immediately apparent this spring.  However, the weather this season has been excellent for fungal growth and I can spot a few different fungal issues in these pictures. The spring frost would not help this either. I would recommend that she fully removes leaves from around the trees this fall and treats it with general fungicides (copper, sulphur, or mancozeb based) this fall and this spring prior to bud break. That should limit overwintering fungal inoculum. If she would like to further treat the trees, she can apply fungicides about every ten days from March to mid-June. I would recommend getting a backpack sprayer or handheld pump sprayer to treat the trees.

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 11, 2024, 3:24 PM EDT
response: Hi Lindsay,   Thank you so much for the information.   Best Wishes,   Joanne   Joanne Silvia Office Manager MSU Extension – Saginaw County Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital Center of Hope 723 Emerson Street Saginaw, MI  48607 Phone: 989.907-6520 Email: <personal data hidden>          MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.   Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.   From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 3:17 PM To: Silvia, Joanne  Subject: Re: Sour Cherry Tree (#0154496)

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 12, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT
response: Hi Lindsay,   Our client wants to know if she can get a recommendation on what general fungicide to use to treat her tree.   Thanks,   Joanne   Joanne Silvia Office Manager MSU Extension – Saginaw County Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital Center of Hope 723 Emerson Street Saginaw, MI  48607 Phone: 989.907-6520 Email: <personal data hidden>          MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.   Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.   From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 3:17 PM To: Silvia, Joanne  Subject: Re: Sour Cherry Tree (#0154496)

responder: Lindsay Brown  Replied September 12, 2024, 3:04 PM EDT
response: Hi Joanne,  There are plenty of good products out there. As I stated before, a copper, sulphur, or mancozeb based product would be good for this scenario. She can check the active ingredients of sprays in stores. However, we do not typically endorse specific products. Best,

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 12, 2024, 3:22 PM EDT
response: Hi Lindsay,   Thanks so much and have a great rest of your day!     Joanne   Joanne Silvia Office Manager MSU Extension – Saginaw County Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital Center of Hope 723 Emerson Street Saginaw, MI  48607 Phone: 989.907-6520 Email: <personal data hidden>          MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.   Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.   From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2024 3:04 PM To: Silvia, Joanne  Subject: Re: Sour Cherry Tree (#0154496)