I planted a wheeping cherry tree in May and it had a few green leaves on it until about end of July. I water it as I should, but I'm concerned that it has died. Is there any way to tell if it's dead or should I wait it out? There's little green shoots on it so I'm not sure.
Weeping Cherry Tree:
If there are little green shoots there is still life in the tree, I would wait it out and see how it does. Im sure the leaves just fell off maybe due to the stress of moving or perhaps they are supposed to fall off and will again grow in the spring.
Your tree is alive! I see green shoots all over. Keep doing what you are doing.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
This mini weeping cherry tree was not so mini so I cut air branches off. Will it grow and if not can I use tree hormones?
If you pruned in early spring or late fall, there should be no issues. If not, it might not bloom this season.
Will a weeping cherry tree sprout back from the trunk if cut down?
It will sprout back, but will never be the same as before. Often depending on the cut, the stump gets a little sick from this , and may take more time to recuperate from this cut down!
So I am assuming suckers and runners are the same thing--where you get a baby tree sprout when you cut a tree down that appear all over your yard--anywhere were there were roots? We call them runners--so if this is the same thing then what I can tell you is this does happen sometimes.
I am not sure why sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. The only way to get them to stop is if you remove the stump completely and dig up the roots.
Maybe other people here have better ways to make the runners stop. This is the only thing that worked for us.
I do not believe it will 'sprout' back from the actual trunk but runners or suckers may appear from the sides/roots.
A sucker may grow tall but I do not believe it will ever produce a true tree but I could be wrong. Some say you can cut a sucker and plant it and grow a nice tree but I have not seen this happen.
Here are comments from others:
"Cherry trees grow shoots from the base of the trunk, often referred to as suckers. These suckers can be cut off at the base and will easily grow roots and start growing a new tree.
The stump may well sprout new shoots, but the likelihood of them being the same as what was on top is very low."
www.quora.com/
Recently we had to cut down one of our large food bearing trees in the yard because it was right on the property line and our neighbor wanted to put up a fence. After this we have tons of sprouts coming from the root base of the tree. This is actually how the tree was grown in the first place. The other tree we cut down was starting to rot and needed to be removed because it was dangerous.
In my experience, it will probably grow back, unless you removed the root structure. But be warned! Many weeping cherry trees have been grafted onto a more hearty trunk. The suckers that come up could be from that original tree and may not flower or have the airy weeping branches.
Here is the weeping cherry in my front yard. You can see how the trunk is very straight and then there is a knotty mess before the branches start. That is the graft. We get little suckers that grow near the trunk but they mostly get mowed down before they are big enough to be a problem.
Jess - what did you do to the tree? I have one that is in really bad shape. Did you cut down all the branches down to the trunk and leave a couple of feet of trunk left Any pictures by any chance? Still trying to understand the options so any help most appreciated.
Here is a picture of my tree right now. We have not yet trimmed it for spring and will probably leave it mostly alone until it flowers in March. Generally, we trim off anything I can reach from the ground and any branches that grow from the trunk or the lower part of the main branches.
You can see how we topped it many years ago. We picked 4 or 5 big branches that were shooting from the graft point and kept them. We cut off all the rest of the branches at the base, leaving a sad and barren looking tree. We trimmed off the ends of the branches that were left and then left it alone for a few years. Although it looks sort of funny when we lose the leaves, it's beautiful most of the year.
You say your tree is in bad shape but don't say how. If it is healthy and just growing in weird directions, trimming could help you shape it. If it is not growing well, it might need better drainage or fertilizer or have a disease or insect infestation. Let me know how I can better advise you.
Good luck!
Hi Jess, I have a grafted weeping cherry tree that is about 13 years old and has always been healthy. It's only about 6 feet tall, the trunk part is straight and stout and the "weeping part" never grew tall but grew wide. That is fine, it's by our mailbox. This year I think the canopy has died? It has the little buds but they never opened and all of the branches are dried and crispy when I break one off. However, there are little sprouts all over the trunk. I understand the trunk is a different variety and the sprouts won't weep. My question is if you know if I can save the tree or should we just cut it down and dig up the roots?
That's so sad. Last year's heat and drought did a number on a couple of our trees and bushes, that might be the reason. I would trim off anything that is dead and anything that is growing out of the side of the trunk, or from the ground. Leave the sprouts that are pointing up and see how they fare. You can decide to take it out in a couple of years if it isn't blooming or is too unsightly.
If you do take it out, be sure to save the trunk for smoking or barbecue. Cherry and apple wood are both prized for cooking. We save all our larger branches when we trim. Just allow them to dry thoroughly before using.
You might want to check with your local library. They often have master gardeners that have times to answer questions.
Good luck, I hope it grows back and is beautiful again.
My weeping cherry tree has 2 completely different kinds of leaves on it. The larger leaf is coming from 1 branch out of the lower trunk area which is connected. The smaller leaves make up the entire tree. The leaves are totally different as if from 2 different trees, but not.
The lower branch is growing from the root stock, hence the different, larger leaves. Weeping cherry trees are the result of grafting the weeping variety onto a straight trunk of a different variety of cherry. You can prune off the lower branches that grow from below the graft to eliminate the leaf difference and to retain the shape of your tree.
I love these trees and miss having one!
Most are grafted which can cause all kinds of wonky things...this site explains it better than I can:
homeguides.sfgate.com/
Enjoy the tree and its unique characteristics!!
Your weeping cherry tree is a grafted tree and the growth is an off-shoot of the "mother" tree and should be removed ASAP or it can damage the looks of your cherry tree.
Trees and roses are often grafted. That is why you see two different leaves
I have found such branches on our cherry tree at the bottom of the trunk which I removed
There is ALSO a new branch growing on the crown of the tree itself with different leaves than the rest of the tree...
Should I cut it ?
It looks like we have a hybrid tree now all over
Something is eating my little weeping cherry. What is a good pesticide?
By Chebai
You need to find out what it is first. Pesticides will get different critters, some will work on aphids and some wont. Some on grubs, and some wont'. If you can find what it is take it to your local extension office and they can identify it for you.
I would spray with insecticidal soap and see how that works
I'm a 'thrifty' person by habit, scavenging for seeds whenever possible. This gives me a wide variety of flowers, bushes, and trees to enjoy the following spring. However, this year I was trying to get seeds from a weeping cherry tree and couldn't see any seeds beneath the tree. Yet, just along the driveway edge (beneath the overhang of the cherry tree boughs) were a multitude of sprouts with leaves that look a great deal like those of the weeping cherry tree.
Some trees spread by shoots coming off of the roots. That may be what you have. Can you post a picture of your tree?
I thought those weeping tree forms were grafted onto a tree trunk of upright type stock. Hey, just sprout it in a big container and if you don't like it, give it as a gift or toss it.
Steven Sullivan
Hardiness Zone: 8b
D_Mcpasterfield from Austin, Texas
A: D_Mcpasterfield,
I'm certainly no Bonsai master (although I'm a big admirer of the art), but in most cases, weeping cherry trees bloom by the age of 4 to 5 years old. That is, of course, assuming that their growing requirements have been met satisfactorily for the years leading up to their first bloom. Any number of environmental factors may work to slow down (or even speed up) this process. But even more so than environmental factors, genetics play a large role in determining when flowering trees first flower. Some trees, like some people, are "late bloomers." Growing a weeping cherry tree as a bonsai specimen is really no different than growing one in your backyard in terms of development. The only difference is that bonsai artists go to great lengths to control the size and shape of their trees. So the age at which your weeping cherry will bloom for the first time is dependant entirely on genetics and how well you meet its requirements for growth, independent of the bonsai conditions under which the tree is grown.
Ellen
I bought a weeping cherry tree last fall. It was problably 3 or 4 years old. Mine bloomed this spring and I believe it bloomed last year while it was in its pot.
I live in Northeastern PA.
Zone 5
good to know I live in NE PA also. I worked at Marywood University and it was the first time I seen them. they are a awesome addition, I am doing everthing flowering to get my bees happier. Anyway how long doesit take for them to get a couple feet tall? I have 9 acres and want to make sure they dont get mowed down.
I live in Southern Indiana, climate zone 6b. I planted this beautiful tree on March 28, 2016. It bloomed beautifully! The hole was twice as big as the container and I mixed together 1/2 Miracle Gro potting soil with the dirt that came out of the hole. The second pic is May 3, 2016. On May 10 the tree was full of leaves and even had about 15 cool little cherries on it, until the birds ate them all! About two weeks ago the leaves started turning yellow then brown. Today, May 27, 2016, there are a few green wilted leaves left. I watered it well since it was put in the ground, (except during heavy rain days). 
The rains here have been absolutely horrible. I believe it's been so wet it has drowned?
I can bring it back to the store, but there are no nice ones left. This happened so fast! Is the tree dead? I don't think it could just 'keel over' like this. The tree is not as small as it looks, it was so vibrant and lively just two weeks ago. Is there anything I can do to bring it back from the 'hell' that it's in if it's not dead? Most all of the branches are not brittle and still bend. This was my 'center piece' in my new garden and I don't want to wait a year to see if it's a goner. Please help my poor little tree. :( The picture in the middle was just 14 days ago.I personally don't think your tree is dead. I do think that you need to take the tree out of the ground and check the roots. You can plant this in a large container to bring it back to life. Afterwards, cut back all the branches to start new leaves growing on the tree.
Check the roots of your tree for ants. During a lot of rain ants can go underground and attack the roots of your plants. By uprooting this plant, checking the roots, and planting it in a pot should help.
What is the hardiness of the weeping cherry tree and will it grow in Colstrip Montana?
By Linda
They grow in zones 4-8. You are in zone 4, so it should grow.
I planted a weeping cherry tree 2 months ago. All the leaves fell off after planting. I have little shoots coming out at the bottom of the trunk but nothing but bare branches at the top. It looks almost like it is dead. Any suggestions for what to do? I don't want to lose it.
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Jean from Beachwood, NJ
It probably is dead. If there are no buds on the branches its gone. Typically this kind of tree (ie weeping variety) is grafted onto a parent stock -- and the shoots coming from the base will be that parent stock and will not have the weeping habit. The parent tree may not be a cherry (although most likely) -- it could also be another member of the cherry or Prunus family.
If you only bought it two months ago, and from a reputable nursery they should be willing to exchange it or give you a credit. Most nurseries give a 1 year guarantee. Good Luck
I've had a weeping cherry for about 4 yrs. and it has done wonderfully. This spring was long and cold, it budded but did not blossom or produce any leaves, but branches still seem to be snappy.
By Chelly
On the base of my cherry tree which we have had planted for approx. 2 or 3 years is a bubbling of a sap substance. Is this OK? It's a Snow Mountain variety and very healthy.
By CAROL
These beautiful ornamentals are subject to damage and neglect that can put them in danger of dying. This is a page about saving my weeping cherry tree.
