Hello All,

I have a problem with my Methley plum tree. It is severely infected with black knot. Nearly every branch has it to some degree.

How do I save this tree? It is around 14 years old and is very sentimental. I do not want to remove the tree.

I believe it contracted the disease from a nearby black cherry. I have Thiophanate-methyl, Captan, and chlorothalonil as spray Daconil in large quantities along with aluminum tris and immunox.

Only the trunk and one or two of the scaffold branches close to the trunk are clean. There are however some new clean looking growths growing but they are growing off of branches that have knots all over far upstream/closer to the trunk.

I know I am supposed to prune off 4 inches of knotted branches in the fall, but I would have no tree if I did this.

How should I treat it?

Should I try to chisel out the knots on the significant branches in the fall? Will the fungus stop spreading and die if I keep loading it up with systemic fungicides?

I want to do everything possible to safe the tree at all costs.

Thank you.