How to treat holes in Cherry tree leaves?

[John57]

Something is putting holes in the leaves of my cherry tree. Any ideas and advice welcome. I water it and feed it …

 

 

[Jason]

Hi again @John57,

Let me point you towards another helpful Bunnings guide - How to plant and grow a cherry tree.

The guide says Pear and cherry slug is a major pest for cherry trees. These small slugs can be found munching their way through the foliage. They are best treated with a suitable insecticide, like Yates Success Ultra.

Let me tag one of our resident community experts @Noelle to see if she thinks this damage might have been caused by the slugs. 

Jason

[Noelle]

Hi @John57 

It looks rather like the damage caused by the pear and cherry slug, but this pest would be uncommon in a suburban area unless there are others with pear and/or cherry trees nearby. The pests would obviously have had to come from an infestation within a few hundred metres of your home. This pest skeletonises the leaves, leaving just a clear window of tissue in each lesion before the centre dies and drops out.

The other alternative could be heavy rain or hail damage, which can shred leaves if severe.

I'd be inclined to follow Jason's suggestion and treat the tree, especially before leaf fall in autumn. Read the directions and follow any instructions as to when and how often to spray.