We have two cherry trees in the garden and one of them has lost the majority of it's leaves. any ideas why?

flowering cherry or fruiting cherry ?

fruiting tree - previous years it has apparently done very well and whilst it has cherries on it there are a distinct lack of leaves

taken from the BBC site (http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/cherries_feature.shtml): 2008/2009 but we have had quite variable weather so far - wonder if it could be same issue ?

Jason asks...
I have been noticing many cherry trees dropping their leaves early this year. Can this be due purely to the weather as on closer inspection all the buds are healthy. The leaves are yellowing between the leaf veins and also curling so their edges meet. They also seem to be abcising well. It just seems like premature autumn behaviour. What are your views?

Bill replies...
Quite a number of trees have been dropping their leaves early this year Jason due to this year's contrasting weather conditions. We had a dry spring an extremely wet and cold summer and during the autumn time again quite dry and warm and I am sure that it is these contrasting conditions which is causing premature leaf fall.