help me help my garden?!

[Geoff F]

Right then, lets have a look at my Pests & Disease book. I don't recommend getting a book like this because it is a bit like reading a medical dictionary; you recognise most of the symptoms and start to worry.

Main disease of Cherry trees is Silver Leaf disease. Leaves become silvered and affected branches die after a year or two. The whole tree may die. A brown stain is visible just under the bark. Purple Bracket Fungus can sometimes be found on affected stems in the autumn.

False Silver Leaf Disease produces silvery leaves but without die back of branches. This is caused by lack of water and nutrients.

Bacterial Canker. Flattened areas of bark which may exude amber coloured gum. Brown spots appear on the leaves which turn yellow and die.

Honey Fungus. Leaves yellow and wither. Whole plant gradually dies. Honey coloured toodstools can be found around the base.

The only hope is to prune out any diseased areas and wait. Sterilise cutting equipment between cuts.

I bet you wish you hadn't asked now! All you can do is to wait for symptoms to appear this summer and see what happens.

Best of luck.

Geoff.

[bonbon]

Hi
Thanks Geoff. I really appreciate your input. The tree has broken branches that have been snapped rather than pruned so it is already a bit exposed. do you think i should put sealant over these bits or is it too late? It's such a shame as it is so beautiful when it blossoms. we've only been here a year so i've only seen it once but it's a real feature.
Thanks
Yvonne

[bonbon]

Right more of the unidentifiables!

[Geoff F]

If your cherry branches have broken some time ago and the broken edge has sealed naturally, a normal brown colour, don't do anything more now. It will just be a case of wait and see what your neighbour mean't by 'diseased'. It might just be a case of lack of nutrients.

With regard to your latest photos. It is virtually impossible to tell from leafless stems. The first one looks possibly like hydrangea and you could have some bamboo showing near the bottom of the later photos.

[bonbon]

I will wait for the leaves - if they come. Thanks for your input though. I think a few others said dogwood for that first one too. The last ones are all in a big clump together all about 6ft and rather out of control! I think there may be some kind of bamboo in there. I have a lot to learn!! Thanks again.