I got a weeping cherry tree about a month ago. It is in a planter (planted into it by the garden center here in NY where I bought it). Within the last two weeks it has begun shedding its leaves at an alarming rate. Some branches are seemingly dying – with the leaves turning brown, though remaining on the branches, while green leaves fall off. A few leaves have also turned yellow and fallen off. The tree is in its planter on my patio on the 5th floor in full sun – what on earth is wrong and what (if anything) can I do to save this tree, that I love?? I should mention I know nothing about gardening.
It sounds like it is drowning to me. Either the planter has no hole in the bottom for water to escape or the planter is sitting in a saucer that is being kept full of water. Make sure that there is a hole in the bottom of the planter or make sure that it doesn’t sit in a saucer of water for more than a few minutes. Plants drown quickly just as we do. It has been very rainy this spring so attention needs to be paid to emptying the saucers below potted plants to prevent drowning. The soil should be kept just moist but not soggy wet. Saucers under plants are there to prevent damage to floors and carpeting. When you water, any water in the saucer that doesn’t soak back up into the soil within a few minutes should be dumped out.