New poster here, with no prior experience with fruit trees. I recently bought a place that included a weeping cherry, now in bloom. 3 questions: 1. how can I tell if it is ornamental vs. fruit tree? 2. is there any way to identify the actual tree (more than just "cherry")? 3. it's oozing sap in several places on the trunk, but I'm guessing that none of the places are close enough to the ground to suspect peachtree borers. Is this likely gummosis? How do I treat it? I've attached a few photos - I hope I did it right. Thanks!
Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula'. Weeping cherry. Does not produce fruit. Many of the various prunus will produce gummosis. Generally it is not a symptom of its' demise. Often just a wound that "bleeds". If a blackened area appears around it, with a sunken aspect, it may be canker. I have an ancient cherry tree here with an enormous canker on it that hasn't set it back one whit. I suspect the tree isolated it by itself.
Thanks! I'll keep a watch on the wounds for the blackened area. And I'll check out the local library's offerings re: this species. It's not too clear in the top photo, but there's one fairly large branch that needs to be pruned out (it basically runs up the middle, weaving/crossing over/rubbing a number of other large branches, but it's not a "leader"). Removing it probably would help with air circulation. The branch is too big and high for me to take out, so I'll need to call someone. Would local nurseries be the best way to find a professional to prune, or the yellow pages? Do I seek a professional forester or is there a "fruit tree" specialist? And I probably should wait until the fall, right?
