Cherry

Table of Contents

1. Aphids
2. Pear Slugs
3. Peach Tree Borers
4. Brown Rot
5. Black Knot
6. Cherry Maggots
7. Leaf Spot
8. Related Links

Aphids

Aphids are soft bodied greenish to brown, pear-shaped insects 5 mm in size. They are a common problem on apple and sweet cherry and less so on sour cherry. They attack the growing end of twigs throughout the summer, sucking sap and causing leaves to curl, pucker and turn yellow. Fruit is affected when the infestation is severe. Control is very difficult once this insect becomes established and leaves are curled.

Treatment

Cultural control: Syrphids, ladybugs and lacewings are good natural predators of aphids and often will keep populations below damaging levels.

Chemical control: Spray trees when aphids are abundant and repeat as indicated on the product label. Spray sweet cherry when leaf buds break if infestation was severe the previous year. For up to date recommendations on pest management options consult local horticulturalists, Master Gardeners or your local garden supply centres.

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Pear Slugs

Pear slugs are the larvae of sawflies and are not true slugs.

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Peach Tree Borers

Peach tree borers attack peach, nectarine, apricot and sometimes plum and cherry trees.

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Brown Rot

Brown rot is a fungus that attacks various parts of the trees.

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Black Knot

Black knot affects plum and sometimes cherry.

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Cherry Maggots

Cherry maggots are related to apple maggots. The small adult fly lays eggs on developing fruit in late spring and early summer and the maggot tunnels into fruit, causing it to be small and misshapen and to fall prematurely. The maggot is yellowish-white, legless and has two dark mouth hooks. Both sweet and sour cherries are attacked. A cherry crop infested with maggots is not worth harvesting.

Treatment

Cultural control: Because the insects will overwinter in the soil under the tree, gather infested fruit and discard it in the garbage or bury it at least 60 cm deep. Encourage your neighbours to do the same.

Chemical control: Spray between July 1 and 10, depending on geographic location. If cherry maggot was a serious problem in the previous year, apply a spray 10 days earlier. Observe the product's no-spray interval before harvest. If unsprayed cherry trees grow in the neighbourhood, control is usually unsatisfactory. For up to date recommendations on pest management options consult local horticulturalists, Master Gardeners or your local garden supply centres.

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Leaf Spot

Leaf spot often occurs on sour cherry, but rarely on sweet cherry. Many small, red-purple spots first appear on the leaves, holes then develop, and the leaves eventually yellow and drop. The tree is weakened if this happens during successive years.

Treatment

Cultural control: Rake up and destroy infested leaves as they fall to reduce the level of overwintering of the disease.

Chemical control: When leaf spot has been a problem, spray when blossom petals fall and repeat as indicated on the product label. Observe the product's no-spray interval before harvest. For up to date recommendations on pest management options consult local horticulturalists, Master Gardeners or your local garden supply centres.

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Related Links

• Diseases
• Insects
• Tender Fruit
• Master Gardeners
• Landscape Ontario

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