removing cytospora canker from fruit trees question

8 years ago

I have an old plumb tree that has been in my family for 38 years. I have noticed that it is leaking sap from a few places and it looks like ctospora cankers. I watched a video on youtube on how to remove them, but my question is, which month do I start the removal?
Questions:
1) which months can I start removing the ctospora cankers
2) how long can a tree last with this infection
3) can i still expect fruit with the infection?
As the last resort I will remove the tree.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Plum (no "b") trees, like most others in the Prunus genus, are very prone to gummosis or oozing/leaking sap. And there are many causes for this, not all of them serious enough to consider treatment. Unless you are very experienced in these things, it is pretty difficult for a home gardener to accurately diagnose a disease issue......even many horticulturists have difficulty. And I for sure wouldn't give much credence to YouTube - there is more cr*p on there with respect to gardening and pruning than there is anything of value!!

Take some clear and close up photos of the problem and post here......we will do our best to help diagnose what is going on. Or at the very least, direct you to someone in your area that can.
Parker Turtle
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Often excessive water in the soil and poor soil drainage exacerbates the issue. The first step is to let the soil dry out for a time period, and then be sure it doesn't get overwatered. Then you can take a very sharp knife and carve out the disease from the tree. Be sure you get it all and you may have to go in deep. After each cut, sterilize the knife. Then treat the wound with a dilute solution of bleach so it doesn't get reinfected. It's best to do this when it will be dry for the next couple of days, you might want to wait for the best season.

Then you leave the wound alone and the tree will develop sap to cover the wound. This is part of the healing process. Then you have to wait. Sometimes the sap will start turning dark and overly oozing. Then you may have to go in again. But don't go in unless you're absolutely sure the new sap is from an infection and not just part of the natural healing process.

And make sure you're able to differentiate between cytospora canker and peach tree borer. They can often appear similar.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Before you start carving up your tree, get the diagnosis confirmed!! Prunus are prone to multiple different types of cankers and the treatments are not all the same.

It's much the same as having a stomach ache and rushing to the ER to have your appendix removed when the problem may be just gas or constipation. You need to know what is wrong first, before you attempt any treament.