weeping cherry tree

[Rick A. Pietrolungo]

I have a weeping charry tree that only flowers in the bottom part of the tree. This has happened the last two years. I feed the tree with spikes should I be doiing something else ? Thanks Rick

[Newt]

Hi Rick,

Not really enough info here to be truly helpful but I suspect those fertilizer spikes might have something to do with your problem.* Most arborists don't recommend them as they can cause fertilizer burn.* Other possibilities could be tree is planted too deep, mulch is too deep or piled up against the trunk forming a volcano, not enough sun, etc.* Btw, when you say "the bottom part of the tree" to you mean just the tips of the branches or just the lower limbs?* If it's just the lower limbs, are the non-blooming branches growing straight up?

Newt

[Rick A. Pietrolungo]

Thanks for your reply... There are branches growing straight up on this tree but they still fall over to give that mound look. The top part of the tree is what isn't blooming. I wish I would have taken a picture of it to send along with the 1st message but the tree is out of bloom now.* The leaves are coming well and are plentiful. There is a bed of mulch but it is not mounded like a volcano. Any other thought's ? Thanks:?

[Newt]

Hi Rick,

Sorry I haven't answered you before now, but I've been ill and had surgery the day after your last response.* I suspect that you have new growth from below the graft of your tree that needs to be pruned off.* Here's how to do that.
http://www.freeplants.com/free-artic...erry-trees.htm

You can check your mulching techniques and rootflare here as well as pics to see how to make pruning cuts.
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/ho...ne/prun001.htm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/rootg...pingflare.html
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx

Newt