Content
Cherries do not bud in the spring for a number of reasons that depend not only on the gardener. In order for the plant to feel comfortable on the site and produce a stable harvest, varieties are chosen that are specially bred for the region and adapted to weather conditions.
Normal kidney condition in early spring
When cherry leaves bloom in spring
Cherries are classified as early fruiting crops. The beginning of sap flow is in the spring – from the moment the snow melts and daytime temperatures rise to above zero. The first stage of the biological cycle is flowering; flowers are formed before the vegetative buds fully bloom, or simultaneously with them. The time depends on the variety and region of growth:
- approximately in the middle zone - from the second half of May;
- in the Leningrad region - two weeks later;
- in the south - in April;
- in Siberia - late May - early June.
Flowering duration – 14 days at a temperature not lower than +100, if weather conditions do not meet the biological requirements of the crop, the deadlines are shifted. This means that vegetative buds should bloom at the end of May or mid-June. Each climate zone has its own timing. At an early stage of the growing season, it is difficult to determine the problem, since the buds on the cherry may appear green in appearance, but may not bloom at the appropriate time.
When there are no leaves on a tree during the period of flower formation, this is a normal phenomenon. If ovaries appear, but the vegetative buds do not begin to grow, something is wrong with the tree. The problem can be determined by the flowering: it is weak, most of the ovaries crumble. Those that remain are unlikely to survive to biological ripeness.
The main reasons why cherries do not bud
The fruit crop is unpretentious in care and grows throughout Russia, except for the Far North. Reacts calmly to drought and temperature changes. For the most part it does not pose a problem for the gardener. But, like any plant, the tree needs appropriate care. There may be several reasons why cherries do not bloom after winter: from improper planting to the variety not matching the climate of the region.
Violation of landing rules
If planted incorrectly, the leaves of young seedlings do not bloom. An adult tree will have a different problem. A few examples of mistakes when placing cherries on the site:
- The composition of the soil does not correspond - for the crop it should be neutral;
- the location was chosen incorrectly - north side with drafts;
- the seedling is shaded by tall trees with a spreading crown - there is not enough ultraviolet radiation for photosynthesis;
- the soil is constantly wet - the site was poorly chosen, located in a lowland, in a wetland or close to groundwater;
- the size of the planting hole does not correspond to the volume of the root system - air cushions are possible, lack of a drainage layer;
- The timing was wrong - the cherries were planted too early in the spring, when the soil did not have time to warm up enough. In autumn, on the contrary, the work was carried out late; the plant did not have time to take root well before the onset of frost.
It looks like a nodular compaction above the root; when planting, the neck is left on the surface - about 6 cm from the ground level.
Violation of the rules of care
If planting is carried out on time and in compliance with all requirements, the cause may be incorrect or insufficient agricultural technology. In this case, they also focus on the climate characteristics of the region. If in the south the reason, for example, will be watering, then in a temperate climate it is improper preparation for winter.
Method of protection against frost and rodents
Watering
For adult cherries that have entered the fruiting stage, watering is not the main condition of agricultural technology. The culture is quite drought-resistant. It only needs two heavy waterings in the second half of summer if there are abnormally high temperatures without precipitation.
The cherry tree has a well-developed and deepened central root; it replenishes moisture deficits from the soil. For an adult plant, autumn moisture-recharging watering is more relevant. Fruiting occurs at a time when the temperature does not rise much even in the south.
Seedlings up to three years of growing season are watered with a small volume of water twice a month in the spring. In summer they look at the weather. The plant can more easily tolerate a lack of moisture than its excess. But the soil should not be allowed to dry out either.
The root circle is mulched - this method protects the root from burns and retains moisture in the summer
If the soil is wet and the temperature drops sharply, part of the root may die; in the spring, the buds will remain dormant from lack of nutrition, and the leaves on the cherry will not bloom.
Top dressing
When planting, a nutrient substrate is added to the hole; it is enough for the seedling to grow for three years; young cherries are not fed during this period. If the tree’s buds do not bloom under this condition, the reason is not due to fertilizing. Without a nutrient mixture, plants are fed with organic matter in the spring: during the summer, phosphate and potassium fertilizers are applied in accordance with the instructions. Next season, the cherry leaves will appear at the right time.
An adult tree is fertilized before flowering, before the formation of berries and in the fall. If a mature cherry tree does not bloom in the spring with timely fertilizing, the reason may be an inadequacy of the soil. Once every 3-4 years the composition is normalized in accordance with the indicator.
Dolomite flour is added to acidic soil; alkaline soil is neutralized with granulated sulfur
Trimming
This method of agricultural technology is mandatory for cherries at any age, starting from the moment of planting. The shoots of the seedling are shortened to 4-6 fruit buds in order to direct the growing season to the development of the root system. Failure to comply with this condition may result in a lack of leaves in the spring.If the seedling is poorly rooted, it cannot fully provide itself with nutrition; the buds will remain underdeveloped.
An adult plant begins to be shaped by pruning from the fourth year of growth. The measure is necessary to prevent thickening of the crown. Cherries can respond to overload with ground mass by drying out some of the buds.
The formation of skeletal branches is carried out in early spring or autumn, and dry and twisted shoots are removed along the way.
The plant forms fruit buds at the tops; they cannot be shortened by more than 50 cm.
Poor preparation of cherries for winter
Preparatory measures for winter are a prerequisite for a temperate climate. If you allow the branches to freeze, you can prune them in the spring. The cherry tree will recover over the course of the season. If the root or trunk is damaged, there is a risk of death of the crop, especially young ones. Often it is poor preparation for winter that is the reason for the lack of leaves on cherries. For the winter, the young tree is hilled up, the trunk is wrapped in fabric down to the lower branches, and the layer of mulch is increased.
There will be no leaves on the cherry after icing
Freezing of roots, trunk and crown
In early spring, the problem can be determined by the condition of the crown and wood.
Cut several branches in different parts and determine the severity of the problem by the cut
A healthy cherry has a green cambium (a layer of tissue near the bark), which is clearly visible when cut, and the wood is white with a creamy tint.
If the color of the cambium is black, the tissue is brown with a clearly defined border of the core - the branch is dead and it will not be able to recover. How serious the damage is can be determined at the time of flowering. Viable branches are left, the rest are radically cut off.
If viable areas remain on the tree, it means that the trunk and roots are not completely damaged. There is a chance that the cherry will recover and gradually recover. If there are no flowers or the buds have not opened, the tree is unlikely to be saved.
Weather
This cause of kidney damage does not depend on the gardener. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is the frost resistance of the variety when purchasing. In winter, vegetation buds are not afraid of lower temperatures; they are covered with a scaly, tightly fitting protective layer. The main threat to an unadapted variety to a temperate or temperate continental climate in early spring is the time of frost.
Spring frosts
Returning spring frosts are a common occurrence in temperate climates. They become a serious reason why the buds do not bloom. When the plant enters the growing season, sap flow begins. Low temperatures cause the sap to freeze: it stops, increases in size and tears the wood tissue.
After the climate has stabilized, the supply of nutrients is insufficient due to damaged areas, the buds dry out and crumble. These are internal problems. In early spring, the buds begin to grow, the top layer opens, and the cherry becomes vulnerable to frost. The buds freeze and there is no need to wait for leaves.
Diseases
Infections during the growing season weaken cherries; young shoots do not have time to ripen during the season, and their buds will not open in the spring.
Cherry leaves do not bloom when affected by coccomycosis
Fungal spores are found in the bark of trees in winter; the active phase begins at the moment of sap flow; the growth of a colony can completely destroy the buds.
Cherry leaves do not bloom due to bacterial burn
The disease causes blackening of the branches, the bark becomes soft, and gum leaks out intensively. The buds die before they have time to bloom.
Pests and rodents
The buds do not bloom due to the presence of pests. Most of the parasitic insects pose a threat to cherries. They overwinter in the pupal stage in the bark of a tree. In the spring, adults lay eggs, depending on the species, caterpillars appear after two weeks.
Of particular danger are:
- Brown mite, its larvae feed on bud juice. In case of mass accumulation, most of the crop will be lost. Damage can be determined by drying of the leaves.
- The kidney mite lays eggs. Externally, the cherry tree looks quite healthy in spring: the buds have swollen and increased in size, but do not bloom. The larva, until it has reached the required mass, is located inside the kidney, so the size seems normal. But upon detailed inspection, the pest is identified.
- Black cherry aphids also feed on the sap of the buds - they decrease in size and dry out.
Adult brown fruit mite
Rodents cause great harm to young cherries. They feed on young root shoots. In spring, the damaged system cannot provide itself with nutrition, and the cherry tree remains without leaves. If the bark is damaged, the plant will not only not produce leaves, but may die in winter.
What to do if the cherries do not bud at the right time
First of all, it is important to try to determine the reasons by eliminating all possible options. Then take measures to eliminate them:
- If planting conditions are violated, the tree is moved to another area or groundwater is drained if the reason is high humidity.
- They adjust the requirements of agricultural technology - increase or decrease watering, apply fertilizing in accordance with the schedule.
- If the roots of a young tree are frozen, the leaves do not bloom - the cherry is removed from the soil, and the damaged areas are cut off. They are treated with a disinfectant and placed in a growth-stimulating drug for 12 hours. Then the tree is returned to its place.
- If branches are damaged by frost, they are cut off and the sections are lubricated with garden varnish.
- If more than 60% of the bark is damaged, it will not be possible to save the cherry.
- If damaged by spring frosts, the tree will recover on its own, but will not produce a harvest. Change the variety to a more winter-hardy one.
The same goes for infections. This reason can be easily eliminated; next year the cherry leaves will appear in due time.
Prevention measures
Preventive measures include:
- loosening the soil near the cherry tree in the fall so that pests wintering in the soil are killed;
- removing weeds, collecting dry leaves;
- whitewashing the trunk;
- sheltering the plant for the winter;
- treatment for infection;
- location of drugs toxic to rodents near the cherry;
- sanitary and formative pruning of the crown.
Conclusion
Cherries don't bud for many reasons. The main thing is to identify and eliminate them in a timely manner. This problem often occurs with young trees if agricultural practices and planting requirements are not followed. The reason for the lack of leaves on an adult tree can be pests, diseases and incorrect pruning.
