Weeping Cherry (Not Willow) Waterlogging: Prune Dead, No Fungicide

Alabama weeping cherry (Prunus, not Salix) with top dieback, basal vigor after heavy rain—waterlogging, not fungus. Prune dead wood; no fungicide needed.

Diagnosis

• Top dead, bottom alive = root zone stress (wet soil → root death → top starvation)
• Scrape test: green cambium = alive, brown = dead
• Prune to green wood
• Fungus would show cankers, not clean top-down dieback

Action

1. Confirm dead vs. alive with scrape test
2. Prune all brown wood to green
3. Improve drainage if possible
4. Monitor—new top growth from surviving buds

Tree will reshape. Cherries recover well from waterlogging if roots not permanently damaged.