Q: I have two two-year old ‘Yoshino’ cherry trees in full sun
planted thirty feet apart. They were both thriving but over the
past month one tree’s leaves are drooping, turning yellow, and
falling off. The other tree looks great. The sick tree has less
drainage than the other and has been in some standing water. Is
this root rot and will the tree survive? A: Flowering cherry
trees are famous for their dislike of poorly drained soil. Their
roots demand constant gas exchange. In other words, the roots
have to breathe. Cherries installed in un-amended clay soil or
planted too deeply or in spots where water accumulates usually
die after a few years. I’m doubtful your sick tree will survive.
Remove it, mix a bag of soil conditioner in a six-foot wide
planting area and put another in its place. Tags For This
Article: planting