What's eating my yoshino cherry?

Yoshino cherry (Prunus × yedoensis) is susceptible to cherry blackfly distorting spring growth, winter moth caterpillars eating flower buds before blossoming, and scale insects building up on bark. Deer rub bark with antlers in autumn. Its early spring flowering makes bud damage from bullfinches and winter moth caterpillars particularly damaging to its ornamental value.

Dense black colonies on new shoot tips in April–May; tight leaf curl; heavy honeydew deposits stain bark and foliage below Plant-oil winter wash from November to February; insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray at bud-burst; encourage beneficial insects by planting understory pollinator plants

Loopers eat emerging flower buds and leaves in early spring — critical for Yoshino as blossom is its main ornamental feature Grease bands on trunk and all stakes from late October; check and refresh grease monthly; pyrethrin spray at bud-swell if looper damage seen

Brown, limpet-like scales cluster on bark and older branches; sap loss weakens branches; honeydew and sooty mould follow heavy infestations Spray plant-oil winter wash to smother overwintering scales on bare wood; scrub bark with a soft brush; pyrethrin spray targets mobile crawlers in early summer

Antler fraying strips bark from trunk; young trees can be ring-barked (killed); most damaging in September–November during the rut Stake and cage young trees with wire netting at least 1.5 m tall; deer repellent spray; chose planting sites away from deer corridors where possible