Can this cherry tree be saved?

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Bought a house from an older woman who let the backyard get overgrown. The yard is mostly cleared out now and is somewhat sunnier, but still receives only partial sun.

Below is a holly tree on the left, the cherry tree in question in the center, then a junk tree, then some sort of ornamental. (I guess you have to click the picture to see the whole thing)

The cherry is in rough shape but I'm wondering if I took out the surrounding trees whether it could recover. That said, I don't want to cut everything out only to have the cherry die on me too.

What are the odds of survival of the cherry if I cut everything else out?

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Comments (5)

L Clark (zone 4 WY)
4 years ago
Ornamental cherry are usually short lived. It could be near the end of its life.
Mike thanked L Clark (zone 4 WY)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
not really sure which stick you are talking about.. do you mean the one with the huge trunk wound??

what kind of cherry ... fruit.. or just flowering ... the usual good place.. for good suggestions... if starting with an ID ... which will probably also define your goal for it ... fruit or leaves//flowers ..

ken
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Mike
Original Author
4 years ago
Ha- Ken- yes that's the one, with the wound. It's an ornamental.
krnuttle
4 years ago
I would plant a replacement this season. However I would remove the competition around the old cherry and let it do its thing. Old gnarly old trees are looked down on, however they had a certain character to the yard. Similar to the character that is added by the old house.

As for the holly, I may leave it there as it adds counter point to the old cherry.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
I'd get rid of all of them. None are in good health (the cherry especially) and they add nothing of value to the garden with exception of them just being *there*. If you want a flowering cherry tree then purchase and plant a new heathy one and then work to keep it healthy.