Old Cherry Tree Dead Leaves and Holes: Fire Blight—Prune, Spray, Remove Moss

50-year-old cherry: dead leaf clumps hanging, all green leaves holey, green moss on trunk/branches.

Diagnosis: Fire Blight

Bacterial disease (apple family: cherry, pear, rose, photinia). Leaves look burned. Moss/lichens indicate decline.

Attempted Rescue

• Remove dead areas, destroy fallen foliage.
• Do not fertilize—feeds bacteria.
• Spray Ferti-Lome Fire Blight Spray per label, weekly.
• Remove moss/lichens from trunk/branches.

Recovery unlikely but possible—some trees persist. Good luck.