Not sure whether to post this here, or on fruit tree page? I have a mature cherry tree which appears to be infested with ants. One large branch has died, and another is going the same way. The branch and trunk have large blobs of resin extruded, some of which have lost the clear amber color, and become like the roisin you put on a violin bow.
Are the ants the cause of the diseased limb, or the result of the limb dying...and how would I determine that?
How do I rid the tree of ants, and restore it to health? It is still very productive, and bears high quality fruit.
Maggie
Hello Meggie,
When this problem started?Before flowering or after giving fruits?
Cut away the infected area as soon as possible but do NOT hard prune. Cherry tree gets weaken each time prunning is performed other than in early winter. Sterilize your cutter well before cutting, clean and dry the wound quickly with a kitchen paper, and protect the cut wound by hot wax to seal the wound.
Ants are very persistence, the only way to deter them to come back is by Odour. For 500ml of water, add 2tsp bio-detergent dish detergent that contains vinegar content, alternatively, you can add half tsp of vinegar with 2tsp of bio-*degradable dish detergent. Spray the affected area and the whole tree after sunset. Repeat every 5 days to break the circle of the ants.
Amitié,
Pixi
When this problem started?Before flowering or after giving fruits?
Cut away the infected area as soon as possible but do NOT hard prune. Cherry tree gets weaken each time prunning is performed other than in early winter. Sterilize your cutter well before cutting, clean and dry the wound quickly with a kitchen paper, and protect the cut wound by hot wax to seal the wound.
Ants are very persistence, the only way to deter them to come back is by Odour. For 500ml of water, add 2tsp bio-detergent dish detergent that contains vinegar content, alternatively, you can add half tsp of vinegar with 2tsp of bio-*degradable dish detergent. Spray the affected area and the whole tree after sunset. Repeat every 5 days to break the circle of the ants.
Amitié,
Pixi
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dorothydot
- Full Member
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:12 am
- Location: Southern Maryland
Sounds like your tree has borers - that's where the rosin is oozing out from. Then the ants are moving in because of the rosin.
One thing to check is, does the tree have girdling roots at the base? Many, many cherries and ornamental cherries are extremely prone to this.
Borers/ants are symptoms of a tree already under stress, with weakened defenses. Deep-root fertilizing may help, but if girdling roots are present, all fertilizer will do is make the tree grow faster, the roots grow faster - and therefore the girdling root strangle the other root/s faster. You could take an ax to the offending root but... where you have girdling roots on the ground surface, it is extremely likely that there are a number of other girdling roots out of sight under ground.
Cherries are not exactly noted for longevity; 25-35 or 40 years is pretty much max.
One thing to check is, does the tree have girdling roots at the base? Many, many cherries and ornamental cherries are extremely prone to this.
Borers/ants are symptoms of a tree already under stress, with weakened defenses. Deep-root fertilizing may help, but if girdling roots are present, all fertilizer will do is make the tree grow faster, the roots grow faster - and therefore the girdling root strangle the other root/s faster. You could take an ax to the offending root but... where you have girdling roots on the ground surface, it is extremely likely that there are a number of other girdling roots out of sight under ground.
Cherries are not exactly noted for longevity; 25-35 or 40 years is pretty much max.