Warning issued to anyone with cherry trees in garden this July

Anyone who has a cherry tree in their garden - or apricots, peaches or plums - is being warned they must take action this July.

Cherry, apricot, peach and plum trees, known as stone fruit trees, are at risk from a 'potentially devastating' disease in July called silver leaf disease, according to garden centre Jacksons Nurseries. They have warned gardeners that July is a 'crucial time' to take action against silver leaf disease, an airborne bacteria that enters trees via pruning wounds and weakens it.

The garden centre's manager warns that the fungus, Chondrostereum purpureum, is a 'serious threat' to a wide range of fruiting trees and despite its pretty name, the disease can be very bad news.

Hayden Salt, garden centre manager at Jacksons Nurseries, warned: "The spores spread invisibly on the wind and once they gain entry the fungus slowly begins to infect the wood.

"The disease gets its name from giving leaves a silvery sheen, which is a sign that the affected branches are struggling to photosynthesise properly.

"Over time this can lead to branch dieback and even the death of the tree."

Hayden explained that many people believe winter is the best time for pruning all fruit trees. But unlike apples and pears, for stone fruits that is a mistake.

He said: "If you prune stone fruit trees during the colder months, that's when the sap is retreating into the roots.

"This creates a vacuum that can draw fungal spores directly into the exposed wound, giving the pathogen a perfect opportunity to take hold.

"Pruning in July and early August aligns with the tree's natural flow of rising sap, which helps flush out and repel fungal spores rather than allowing them in.

"This means gardeners are making use of the tree's own defences, giving wounds the best chance to heal cleanly and without infection."