Content
Cherry is one of the most popular fruit crops grown in Russia. It is second in popularity only to the apple tree. If the bark on a cherry tree is cracked, it means it needs help. The presence of cracks makes cherry trees defenseless against pests and various diseases. In wounds resulting from cracking, rot and fungal infections appear. To prevent the cherry from dying, it is important to determine the causes as early as possible and take all necessary measures to save garden trees.
Even experienced gardeners cannot always immediately determine the reason why the bark of a cherry tree cracked.
Why does the bark of a cherry tree crack?
When choosing a cherry variety, gardeners need to take into account the weather conditions of their region. Thus, growing crops with low frost resistance in cold climates will lead to the formation of cracks and the complete death of cherry plantings.
Deformations of the crust are a consequence of sharp changes in temperature and weather conditions. Heavy rainfall fills the trunks with moisture, which fills microcracks.Frosts that replace rains turn water into ice, which, expanding, breaks the bark in the weakest places.
Causes of cracks in cherry bark
Cracked tree bark can be caused by a variety of factors, from pest infestations to fungal pathogens and weather conditions.
The most common reasons:
- Severe frosts lead to freezing of internal juices. Under the influence of expansion, the bark gives in to pressure and cracks.
- Active sun rays form red-brown spots on the bark. Their appearance indicates severe overheating of the trunks and branches. As a result of the burn, entire sections of the bark crack and die.
- Large harvests in summer and heavy snowfalls in winter create additional stress, and the surface of the trees cracks.
- Insect pests, for example, bark beetles, gnaw out passages in the trunks through which gum begins to flow out.
- Too frequent feeding, as well as exceeding the recommended dosage when applying fertilizers, stimulate intensive growth of cherries, which can cause cracked bark.
- The activity of rodents leads to cracking of the wood bark at the base of the trunk.
Improper care can also lead to cracks. Some gardeners, in order to prepare cherries for the arrival of cold weather, feed them with special preparations. This enhances the growth of young shoots, which, not having time to get stronger before the onset of frost, crack.
External factors
To avoid possible situations related to the fact that the bark of the cherry tree bursts, it is necessary to select in advance the correct place for planting the seedlings. For cherry crops, sandy and loamy soils are most suitable.The soil should have good air permeability and not retain excess moisture. Trees should not be planted in low-lying, shaded or wet areas. An incorrectly chosen location may later cause the cherry bark to crack.
For effective growth and development, you should also follow the rules for planting fruit crops. In order for the seedlings to take root in a new place, it is recommended to fertilize the area with organic additives. To do this, six months before planting, add manure to the ground and dig it to a depth of 20 cm. If the soil is too dense, you need to add 10-20 kg of sand per 1 square meter. m and deeply plow the entire planting area.
Loose soil will create favorable conditions for the normal development of the root system of cherry crops and protect against cracking due to lack of nutrients.
Cherry does not tolerate proximity to such large trees as pine, linden, oak, which have a strong root system. Being in one area next to these crops, young seedlings receive insufficient nutrition, which can lead to the bark of the cherry peeling off.
Incorrectly chosen planting site and failure to follow proper care often lead to cracks.
Diseases
Cracking may be a consequence of one of the serious diseases:
- Moniliosis. It is caused by a fungal pathogen and is accompanied by drying out of entire branches, the appearance of cracks and gray spots, and gum formation.
A cherry affected by a monilial burn appears charred.
- Black cancer leads to cracking of the surface and partial peeling of the bark. In conditions of high humidity, the disease destroys cherries more intensively.
The main reason for the appearance of black cancer is neglect of preventive treatments
- False tinder – a yellow or dark brown hoof-shaped mushroom. Appears on cherry bark, making the wood soft. Weakened trees crack and can break even from slight physical impact.
The surface of the tinder fungus is covered with small cracks
- Gommoz. A crack in the bark of a cherry tree exuding gum may indicate uncontrolled use of fertilizers. Cherries growing in acidic or very wet soils are also susceptible to gum disease.
The release of gum is accompanied by cracking of the cherry
Pests
Another reason why the bark of a cherry tree has cracked may be insects.
The most dangerous pests include:
- Wrinkled sapwood. By eating away the inner layers of bark, small black bugs leave behind passages through which tree sap begins to ooze. Irrigating cherries with 3% Bordeaux mixture will help get rid of insects.
The bark and shoots located above the damaged areas die off completely
- Bark beetle gnaws many passages in the cherry tree trunk, as a result of which a large surface area cracks and dies. Cherries should be treated with chemicals - Metaphos, Chlorophos.
At the point where the bark beetle enters the trunk, the bark bursts
- Golden borers lay eggs in the folds of the trunk. Offspring eat leaves, shoots and bark, causing it to crack. The borer larvae can be washed with a stream of water.
Aggressive cherry stem pests, borers, have many different types and colors and are often the culprits of cracked cherry bark
- Khrushchev (chafer beetle) hatches larvae in a circle around the trunk. The offspring eats the lower layers of the bark and part of the roots, which leads to the drying out of the trees. Loss of nutrients can cause a cherry tree to crack its trunk.
To protect cherries from the invasion of cockchafers, the soil is sprayed with a product prepared from 200 g of Bordeaux mixture and 10 liters of water
To prevent the cherry bark from cracking, pest control should consist of a combination of agrotechnical and chemical methods. Digging up the circles around the trunk and spraying the plantings with special preparations will protect the crop from the destructive activity of insects.
Rodents
During the summer, cherry trees are exposed to various diseases and insects. During the cold season, plantings may suffer from rodent activity. Voles, rats and beavers gnaw at the lower bark, roots and branches. As a result of the damage received, young seedlings wither and die.
The greatest damage to fruit crops is caused by hares, which are forced to feed on the underground part of the trunks. This is often the reason why the cherry tree bark cracks in winter. Moles and shrews, although they dig up the roots of plants, feed on insects and worms and do not pose a danger to cherries.
What to do if the bark on a cherry tree bursts
If the bark of a cherry tree is cracked, the wounds found must be disinfected. The choice of means depends on what caused the cracking.
Areas that have burst as a result of sunburn or severe frosts are lubricated with a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. Treatment is carried out in the morning and evening. To avoid infection, damaged areas are treated with a mixture prepared from 200 g of copper and 10 liters of water.
The place of cracking becomes a source of infection and active activity of insect pests
In most cases, a broken trunk can be restored. To do this, the cracked area is thoroughly cleaned, tied with wire and covered generously with garden varnish. If everything is done correctly, the crack should heal in 2-3 months.
Prevention of cracks in the bark
To prevent the cherry bark from cracking, it is necessary to take a number of preventive measures. It is best to do this in the fall or spring, when the plantings are preparing for the onset of cold weather or flowering.
Prevention measures:
- To protect the trunks from frost in winter, they are tied with paper or burlap to retain heat. Mulching the soil with sawdust will retain moisture and protect the roots from freezing.
- Gardeners should monitor the load on cherry tree branches to prevent the bark from cracking. In winter, it is necessary to control the amount of accumulated snow and remove its excess. In the summer, you should harvest the berries in a timely manner, and during the period of their ripening, install supports for the branches.
- To prevent rodent activity from causing the cherry bark to crack, the trees are wrapped in roofing material and coated with a mixture of clay and manure. The branches are sprayed with carbolic acid.
- Experienced gardeners recommend furrowing to provoke thickening of the trunks. To do this, at the beginning of summer, using a sharp knife, cut the bark to its entire depth from the very ground to the skeletal branches, trying not to damage the wood. This procedure will speed up the healing of wounds and will not only prevent the cherry bark from cracking, but will also make the culture stronger and more durable. Furrowing is carried out on trees that have reached three years of age, with an interval of 1 time in 4 years.
- Autumn whitewashing will prevent the appearance of cracks and protect the cherry from the possible overwintering of insects in the bark.
Conclusion
If the bark of a cherry tree is cracked, it is necessary to find out the cause of this condition as soon as possible. The appearance of cracks makes fruit crops defenseless against insects and various diseases. To prevent cracking, you should properly care for the trees and regularly implement preventive measures aimed at protecting cherry crops from pests and infections.
