Several types of pests attack cherry trees and can ruin your harvest if you don't act fast. Insects, birds, and wildlife all target cherry trees at different times of year. Knowing what to watch for helps you catch problems before they get out of hand.
Cherry tree pest control starts with learning what lives in your area. I lost my entire first harvest to birds because I didn't know they would strip a tree bare in two days. The next year I found little white worms inside half my cherries from fruit flies I never saw coming. Each pest has its own timing and weakness you can use against it.
The cherry fruit fly ranks as the most damaging insect pest for home growers. Adult flies lay eggs under the skin of ripening fruit in early summer. The eggs hatch into maggots that tunnel through the cherry flesh and leave brown rot behind. You won't notice the damage until you bite into an infested fruit.
Spotted wing drosophila came from Asia and now causes problems here. This tiny fly hits cherries while they still hang on your tree. Most fruit flies only attack fallen fruit but this pest goes after fresh cherries on the branch. Female flies cut slits in healthy fruit and larvae can wreck a crop in days.
Aphids cluster on new growth in spring and suck sap from tender leaves and stems. Heavy infestations curl leaves and stunt shoot growth. The sticky honeydew they leave behind grows black sooty mold that looks bad and blocks sunlight. A strong spray of water knocks most aphids off but they come back fast.
Spider mites attack during hot dry summers. Look for tiny dots moving on leaf undersides and fine webbing between branches. Leaves turn bronze or yellow and drop early when mites get bad. Mites breed fast in dusty conditions so hosing off your trees helps prevent outbreaks.
Birds pose the biggest threat to ripe fruit. Robins, starlings, and cedar waxwings can clean out a tree in hours once cherries turn color. Netting draped over the entire canopy stops birds but you must install it before fruit starts to ripen. Fake owls and reflective tape work for a few days before birds learn to ignore them.
Deer browse on leaves and young branches while rabbits chew bark near the ground. Both pests hit young trees hardest since they can reach more of the tree. Wire mesh guards around trunks stop rabbits. Deer fencing or individual tree cages protect against deer damage.
Timing matters for protecting cherry trees from pests. Hang yellow sticky traps in late spring to catch adult fruit flies before they lay eggs. Spray dormant oil in late winter to kill overwintering aphid eggs and mite eggs. Check trees weekly during the growing season to spot new problems early.
I now use a mix of barriers and sprays to keep my cherries safe. Bird netting goes up two weeks before harvest every year without fail. Organic spinosad spray handles fruit flies when traps show activity. The key is staying ahead of problems instead of reacting after damage shows. Watch your trees and you'll learn what threatens them in your yard.
Read the full article: Growing Cherry Trees From Seed or Sapling
