Hi
The cherry tree in our backyard did not yield any cherries and the leaves are turning yellow and shedding in July. Not sure what the problem is but we want to save the tree. What can be the issue and how to fix it .
Thank you for your question. It’s frustrating when a fruit tree doesn’t produce fruit and the reason isn’t obvious. Unfortunately it is difficult to see what exactly is happening with your tree from the photo provided.
Is it a sweet or sour cherry tree? Has it produced fruit for you in the past or is this a new problem? Most sweet cherry trees are not self-fertile and need another cherry tree of a different variety to cross-pollinate. Sour cherry trees are self-pollinating.
Did your cherry tree blossom normally? The lack of fruit may be environmental, cultural, or there may be issues with pollination. Please see possible causes at this University of Maine Extension website and this garden blog. There is also a condition called biennial bearing that causes trees to produce a lot of fruit one year and little to no fruit the next but most sources refer to this as occurring more frequently on fruit trees other than cherry.
There are several diseases and pests of cherry trees that could cause the yellowing and early leaf drop. Here is a previous Toronto Master Gardeners post that outlines some possibilities.
Your tree may be suffering from more than one problem. For example, tender blossoms may be killed by frost; failure of proper pollination may be caused by the lack of another cherry tree for cross-pollination, or by inclement weather that inhibits bees; and leaves turning yellow and dropping early may be a sign of stress related to either over- or under-watering, or caused by a fungal or bacterial disease.
Consider contacting an ISA certified arborist to confirm the cause(s) and possible treatment options. Best of luck with your cherry tree!