What's killing our blossom trees?

[ChillWith]

Have lived in my house for ten years but in the past five years three of our blossom trees have just died. All followed a similar pattern of leaves not flourishing the year before the tree has died. Two were cherry blossom and one had the most beautiful blue blossom. They were in different locations in the same garden - two cherry blossoms in two separate beds and the blue blossom in the same bed as one of the cherry blossoms but about five metres away from it. The only thing I can think is my partner uses a fertiliser in the lawn to kill off moss. Could that have done it?! All three trees were well established although one was very poorly pollarded when we moved in. Thanks for any help!

Probably honey fungus.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/honey-fungus/

Blue sounds like Ceonothus, which isn’t that long lived anyway. Cherries are susceptible to disease and need to be pruned in spring when the sap is rising, and not during the dormant months like most trees.

If you do identify honey fungus, the RHS have a list of plants which are susceptible or less susceptible

How old were the cherries?
Had you had them looked at by a tree surgeon in the 10 years you owned them? Or had them pruned?

I don't know, but our neighbours cherry died over a couple of years, and then so did ours. They are quite particular I think. Not honey fungus. They just failed to thrive, and then the leaves went black.

We dug it up and replaced with a Liquidamber, which is very happy. We have crab apples and almonds in the same general area, and those are not affected by whatever it was.

How often and how much mosskiller does your partner use? In the wrong doses that could have affected the trees. Tree roots grow sideways for a long distance.

The best way to get rid of moss is a rake, and improving the drainage so that moss doesn't grow there in the first place.

Thanks everyone. Great to have this knowledge. The trees were between 30 and 40 years old but I must admit other than having one looked at by a tree surgeon we let them get on with it really.
@KnittedCardi It's good to know that we could dig up the stump and plant something else in their places. Basically they died exactly as you have described so maybe they did just reach the end of their lives. Sad as I thought trees pretty much went on forever!
@thatsawhopperthatlemon he probably uses it twice a year but otherwise rakes and sands the lawn to help with drainage. I will show him your comment though as will make him STOP!
Thanks all!

My cherry is dying too. Probably 20 years old. Still small really

Pizzards purple plum - LOTS have died this year all over the country - the combination of 2022 drought, 2023 wet and 2024 cold
ditto larches
also ANYTHING with a graft is having problems

I know cherries have a short lifespan, and googling suggests 20-40 years.

My NDN's cherry is struggling and I reckon it won't last long. It hardly had any leaves or flowers on this year. We do have honey fungus killing trees in our area but it's good to know the recent conditions have been having a severe impact too.

Trees take a long time to die.

I think what a lot of people are seeing now is the long-term effects of that scorching hot spell and drought we had a couple of years ago, followed by an exceptionally cold winter. Here in the home counties we had summer temps pushing 40 degrees, and in the winter it went down to -13 that year. That is a difference of over 50 degrees, and plants in most areas of the UK aren't geared up for that sort of thing.