A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 Leaf Curl on Cherry trees

I have two cherry trees in my front yard and the leaves tend to curl up in the summer time. The wife says it's because they need water. I don't think that is the reason. They are green and show no signs of drying out.

How's your tree doing Amigatec???

Have you had aphids on your tree any years before?

***On a side note, I ended up with a gall on
my cherry "pit" tree this year...***

Just curios, Amigatec, do you have standard or dwarf cherry trees?

Cherries are prone to bacterial gummosis, brown rot, cherry leaf spot and leaf curl.

Dormant oil spray [not copper sulfate and lime] which can control the leaf curl also will take care of mites and scales. This spray is applied during dormant period.

Is it a true leaf curl or leaf wilt due to lack of water? Water should be applied as soon as the top 3 inches of soil is dry; the water should be run long enough to soak down 4 ft.; this usually means a 2-hour soaking from a trickling hose whenever a dry spell last longer than 2 weeks. If the soil is sandy, use less water, but water frequently. If the soil is clayish, the interval between watering is a little longer.

I have several dwarf cherry trees in containers. The leaves curls also, and not because of leaf curl, but as a protection /first defense to conserve moisture.