My Stella cherry tree died for no apparent reason

last year

Got her as a bare root through Stark Bros 4 years ago (I think). She was growing fine in previous years, looked perfectly healthy with a decent amount of growth every years. Now she's kaput, no clue why. Soil is well drained, no apparent insect or disease problems in previous years other than very bad Japanese beetle damage the first year, but she bounced back nicely in subsequent years. Are young cherry trees prone to just up and dying? Or maybe this isn't a particularly strong cultivar?

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Comments (3)

UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
last year
Did you have a late freeze? Many of us did this year. Just a possibility.
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
last year
A late freeze wouldn't kill the entire tree -- blooms yes, but not the whole shebang. I have a "Sweetheart" that took some branch damage but is pumping out leaves, but the "Stella" is deader than a doornail. I dug it out today and it didn't look like the tree ever put on much root growth, it didn't take more than five minutes to dig it up. No clue what's up with that. This was a bare-root, maybe it just wasn't a good strong tree to begin with. I bought another cherry to replace it, will see how that goes-- bought that one locally, potted not bare-root.
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socalnolympia
last year
last modified: last year
Cherry trees can suddenly completely die for seemingly "no reason". Usually within the first 2 or 3 years after the tree is planted, but sometimes when the tree is much bigger.

I don't think anyone is sure exactly what the reasons are but it's believed to be due to a number of things. Warm whether in early spring can trigger bud growth and then when that is soon followed by much colder temperatures, it can kill the buds, and in some cases kill large portions of the tree, or the entire tree. In drier areas or on the West Coast, the trees need a lot of supplemental water during the hotter summer months, especially if the tree does not have a well established root system (if it is less than 2 or 3 years old). And in some climates, young trees do not do well in full sun exposure, which can end up putting too much stress on the tree (though if you're in climate zone 5b Michigan, I think that is very unlikely).

In some cases there could be disease or insect pest issues that result in taking the tree out. That might not be apparent if you don't know what to look for. Cherry trees seem to have a higher chance of sudden death in climate where the summers are very hot and humid for a long continuous period.

If you are in zone 5b Michigan, I suspect it has something to do with cold snaps. Especially if you are further inland in Michigan away from regions closer to water. Two ways to help deal with this might be to plant the tree in a spot that is more protected from open winds, and to choose one of the cherry varieties that are more cold tolerant (perhaps "Kristin" sweet cherry).

Also ask yourself if it's possible a gopher might have been tunneling underneath and chewing on the roots.
porkchop_z5b_MI thanked socalnolympia