Any tree guys? Problem with an apple and a cherry tree

[Joel/ak]

Along our driveway, we have 2 apple ( not sure what kind), 2 cherry (same on type) and a pear.

This spring all 5 started out great, then after flowering, part of one apple and a complete cherry "died"

Other 3 are healthy. Although the birds cleaned out the cherry tree.

On the apple, the bark where the dead spot is looks charred with little holes in it. Holes are the size of a heavy gage needle. Bark on the bare cherry looks normal

Bug? Wife thinks lighting strike but I can't see any strike points.

Here's some pics

We moved in 10 years ago and they were already here, just smaller.

Any ideas?

 

[lilranch2001]

My thoughts would be if there are bugs in them that badly, they probably were infested some years ago…

 

[MossRoad]

Start looking up borers. There are sites that can help you identify if those insects are the problem by looking at the size of the holes, patterns, etc....

 

[dodge man]

I’m not sure how long these trees live. When we moved in we had 3 apple trees and one cherry tree. They took turns dying. They were probably about 35 years old when they started dying. They also had carpenter ants in them but I have read they probably didn’t kill the tree but were a sign it wasn’t healthy.

 

[Rockbadchild]

A good way to save a tree is to cut the top end off and it has no choice then regenerate itself bottom up. Dose not always work but often dose.

 

[oosik]

When we had an orchard - apples, cherries & peaches - it was a small bird. Called either - downy woodpecker or sap sucker. They pecked small holes - diameter of a pencil lead - in the bark and licked up the sap that oozed out.

On the trunk there could be areas with hundreds of holes. I fought this problem by wrapping the entire trunk with burlap. Four inches wide and yard & yards long. From the ground to the top of the trunk. Kept in place with loose fitting nylon zip ties. No more holes and the existing ones got a chance to heal.

There was always plenty of other birds/wasps to attack the fruit.

 

[jyoutz]

Along our driveway, we have 2 apple ( not sure what kind), 2 cherry (same on type) and a pear.

This spring all 5 started out great, then after flowering, part of one apple and a complete cherry "died"

Other 3 are healthy. Although the birds cleaned out the cherry tree.

On the apple, the bark where the dead spot is looks charred with little holes in it. Holes are the size of a heavy gage needle. Bark on the bare cherry looks normal

Bug? Wife thinks lighting strike but I can't see any strike points.

Here's some pics
View attachment 816751

View attachment 816752

We moved in 10 years ago and they were already here, just smaller.

Any ideas?

You have some species of wood boring insects. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent to come take a look.

 

[Jstpssng]

Along our driveway, we have 2 apple ( not sure what kind), 2 cherry (same on type) and a pear.

This spring all 5 started out great, then after flowering, part of one apple and a complete cherry "died"

Other 3 are healthy. Although the birds cleaned out the cherry tree.

On the apple, the bark where the dead spot is looks charred with little holes in it. Holes are the size of a heavy gage needle. Bark on the bare cherry looks normal

Bug? Wife thinks lighting strike but I can't see any strike points.

Here's some pics
View attachment 816751

View attachment 816752

We moved in 10 years ago and they were already here, just smaller.

Any ideas?

That cherry has been dying for a while now, some of that wood had been exposed for a year or longer. As somebody mentioned, dwarf trees don’t live very long.
Also keep in mind that your root system extends about as far as the edge of the limbs. If you have ice in winter and apply salt to your driveway, that will stress the trees.

Contact your extension service, they may be able to help you.

 

[Joel/ak]

A good way to save a tree is to cut the top end off and it has no choice then regenerate itself bottom up. Dose not always work but often dose.

The apple that has issues is already starting to regenerate below the infected area.

Gonna get the pole saw out and cut the dead part out. We get a typical mi weather, but we don't use salt.

We do have alot of various woodpeckers. Been looking into borers, definitely not out of the question.

We don't maintain them, although 10 years ago my wife said she would...guess Google doesn't work on her phone. I'd rather rip them all out. Pear tree is cool though. Could they be too close with no maintenance?

We don't get cherries cuz of birds, etc. I'm sick of apples on the driveway and in the yard while mowing. We try and pick up the apples and bring out to the property for deer though

 

[Joel/ak]

Wife's gonna be pissed but....