Identifying and Treating Leaf Damage on Weeping and Yoshino Cherry Trees

Diagnosing Holes in Cherry Tree Leaves

If your weeping cherry or Yoshino cherry trees have small holes in their leaves, the culprit is likely one of several leaf-feeding insects—caterpillars, beetles, or sawfly larvae. These pests often feed at night, so inspect the foliage around sunset to catch them in action.

Treatment Options

Spraying a contact insecticide on the leaves can kill insects present at the time, but if the pests have already moved on, the treatment may be wasted. A more reliable, season-long solution is a systemic soil drench such as Bayer Advanced 12-Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control. Applied around the root zone, the product is taken up by the roots and transported to the leaves, killing insects when they feed. Because it moves slowly with water uptake, apply it early in the season for best results. Note: Do not consume fruit from treated trees.

Product Information

Check with your local garden center or nursery for availability. More details can be found at the manufacturer’s website: Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control.