Fruit tree leaves turning brown/wilting

[ashleyb]

Hi,
First time trying fruit trees and over the past few weeks I've noticed a steady colour change to the leaves  - started on my cherry tree and now my pear and some of the apple trees are turning.  I've done a bit of googling and I'm a bit befuddled as to what it could be (because the internet says it could be literally everything from phosphorus to undernourished!).  Would anyone have some solid advice and a few steps to try and narrow down the cause?  For background, we are high up on a hill and there is very little shelter from the sometimes harsh winds so wondered if it was wind burn or alike too

Many thanks

[SueA]

As you say it could be one of many things! Looking at your photos it does look as though your trees are fairly exposed on an open site & with them being young trees they may be suffering in the weather. If they've been in drying winds then they may need watering at the roots until they're established. I'd just take off the worst of the leaves & keep an eye on the trees, they seem to have a few small holes in the leaves which could be just insect damage or could be something more serious like 'shot hole' fungus but it doesn't look bad enough for that.

[ashleyb]

Great thank you - yes exposed site and the wind comes down the hill but they're staked so I've fingers crossed they survive the worst of it in the winter coming. I sometimes see flies on them but so far haven't noticed anything else. I was afraid to overwater as the soil is a bit claggy but might have been a bit cautious, not taking into account the wind effect.

[SueA]

Hopefully they'll bounce back for you next year.😊

[Cherry]

The young tree trunks and buds for next year look fine, and I would say that is wind damage. My son has had this with his newly planted trees a year ago but they settled down and look good now, although this year the weather has been cold and windy. The birds have eaten the cherries, but there are some apples.