Cherry Tree that seems to think it is autumn already!

My cherry tree is dropping leaves as if it was autumn and there are precious few cherries to be seen. Two years ago we had a bumper crop of cherries (about 15 kilos), then the tree got a severe cropping as it was getting rather large. The following summer (last year) we got few cherries plus an aphid infestation. No aphids this year so I'm wondering what is wrong with it. Any suggestions/advice gratefully received from a novice gardener!

Re: Cherry Tree that seems to think it is autumn already!

Reply from Mark Gregory

Usually a sign of severe stress..trees usually shut themselves down when they cannot manage to get enough water to all the branch structure.which can be normal for a lot of trees when they have had a period of prolonged drought..which we have not..if it had yielded a bumper crop it could be just tired...make sure you give it a very good drink..check that it has re set leaf buds.if it has that is a good sign. cherries do suffer from lots of diseases.such as cankers and silver leaf. which weaken trees, but ususally get into trees through pruning cuts..I doubt that this is the cause..one possible thought is frost damage..we did have some late frosts in may.this has defoliated many trees..but My feeling is it is just tired...think about taking off some of the fruit now..ie 50%. so the energy goes into leaf production and not fruit and reproduction..
Best of Luck
Mark Gregory

Re: Re: Cherry Tree that seems to think it is autumn already!

Reply from Lesley Harrison

Thank you so much for your response. I feel for the poor tree as, if it is just tired, I know the feeling (as I'm sure we all do)! It has had a bit of a traumatic time of it the last two years. I will show it more TLC in future in the hope that it will reward me eventually!

Regards, Lesley