Cherry Shot Hole Disease

Written by

Paul Pugliese.

May 14, 2026

Have holes in the leaves of your ornamental cherry tree and wondering what’s causing it? It might not be bugs after all! In this video, Paul Pugliese, UGA Extension Agent in Bartow County, breaks down a common issue affecting ornamental flowering cherry trees in Georgia—leaf spot disease. He explains how this fungal and bacterial disease mimics insect damage, when it starts, what to look for, and what you can (and can’t) do about it.

Posted in: Diseases, Trees, Video

Paul Pugliese.

Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and minor in Biology from Berry College, Rome, GA in 2001; Master’s degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management from the University of Georgia in 2003; Became a Certified Arborist in June 2009 through the International Society of Arboriculture; Has worked as an Agriculture and Natural Resources County Extension Agent for UGA Extension in Cherokee County (2006-2011) and Bartow County (2011-Present).