Any Idea what this is ?

[littlefeathers]

Originally posted by billy5000:

 

got a damson tree at the bottom of my garden too but its abit diseased though

 

--------------------------------------------

 

Our tree also looks a bit diseased, so I suppose you could say 'we've a couple of damsons in distress'

Sounds like our tree needs a good hair cut after we've picked the fruit of course

I might have to speak to littleonions nicely as I believe Mr onions has wine making equipment thou, can I trust them not to drink it all . . . . . . . . . . ummm, me have to think about this one. :confused:

[corydoras]

After carefull study of Littlefeathers' leaves I am convinced they are Damsons.

 

A word of warning to all you who have damsons or any other Prunus trees in your gardens. Go easy on the pruning, prunus do not like to be pruned and plum, cherry and damson trees can easily be killed by inexpert pruning. Whatever you do don't prune them in the winter or you run a high risk of introducing disease. Prune very lightly in the summer when they are growing. This goes for ornamental cherries and almond trees too.

[Alan Taylor]

corydoras:

 

A word of warning to all you who have damsons or any other Prunus trees in your gardens. Go easy on the pruning, prunus do not like to be pruned and  

I am sure you are right but in this case (several emails on the subject) it would be a last ditch effort to cut out the infected wood (loads) or dig it up and burn it. Arbrex on the cuts seals them from infection.

 

But as I said, I am sure you are right. :cool:

 

Alan(nl)

[chesters1]

silver leaf ,unfortunatly its the saw that spreads the disease (one infected branch to another ) and arbrex helps by sealing the disease into the wound , fullers earth was reconmended a few years ago but i suspect there is a modern anticeptic type replacement .cut the branches about an inch from the main stem then the tree naturally grows over the cut further out or in and it doesnt ,silver leaf (deadly on plumbs) is easily detected ( apart from the silvery leaves) the core of the branch has a distinct brown core ,make sure there is none on the final cut and steralise that saw each cut

[corydoras]

Silverleaf disease Chondrostereum purpureum is only one of the diseases that you need to think about when pruning prunus. Sterilising the saw will not help much to stop the spread of this disease as it is a fungus and the spores get everywhere (but sterilise the saw anyway, there is another nasty disease that Prunus are prone to).

 

The best way to try to eliminate silverleaf is by removing any infected trees or shrubs from your garden and trying to persuade neighbours with similarly affected trees and shrubs to remove theirs too. I know, easier said than done . As far as wound dressings are concerned the use of Arbrex type dressings on Prunus is pretty much deprecated these days as it can cause more problems than it solves. You could try to get a hold of some Alto (cyproconazole) from your local friendly tree surgeon (you will not find it in your a garden centre, it is for commercial use only). It is effective against the fungus that causes silverleaf, without killing the natural fungi that live in the tree that may help prevent silverleaf infection in the first place.

 

Silverleaf disease is nearly always terminal on Prunus trees. Death can occur within two to three years of infection.

 

Try to prune on a dry day. If a washing would not dry outdoors, then neither will the wound or the wound dressing.

 

Make clean cuts. Use a proper pruning saw and cut half way through the branch from the underside and then from the top. Use a sharp sterile pocket knife (carbon steel bladed Opinels are great for this) to make the wound as clean as possible.

 

A good spray with Bordeaux mixture in late autumn will do no harm either.

 

The other disease that can affect Prunus is Bacterial Canker, caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas monsprunorum. This enters the plant through the stomata in the leaves or through pruning wounds or other breaks in the bark.

 

The most obvious symptoms of infection are ‘shot holes’ in the leaves and later on swellings which exude a amber coloured sticky gum, usually close to where a branch comes out of the trunk.

 

Prevention of this nasty is not easy. If you find it on any of your trees lop off any infected branches ASAP and burn them. This and a spray with Bordeaux mixture in the autumn is about all you can do.

 

I hope this helps. Nothing worse than canker of the plums

[littlefeathers]

Originally posted by corydoras:

 

I hope this helps. Nothing worse than canker of the plums

 

-----------------------------------------

 

ouch, I bet that hurts.

 

Many thanks for the advice.

[corydoras]

littlefeathers:

Originally posted by corydoras:

 

I hope this helps. Nothing worse than canker of the plums

 

-----------------------------------------

 

ouch, I bet that hurts.

 

Many thanks for the advice.

Not really, but the sticky gum that exudes gets everywhere!

 

[ 08. September 2003, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: corydoras ]

[greg long]

I thought I was in an angling forum....not gardeners weekly

but since we are at the gardening stage just cut the diseased branches and leave the others alone and the tree will do fine.

[Guest sslatter]

billy5000:

got a damson tree at the bottom of my garden too but its a bit diseased though

Don't tell everyone, or you'll get all these strange blokes in armour knocking on your door!! They're always looking to help a damson in distress.

 

[ 05. September 2003, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: Graham X ]

[Guest sslatter]

B***S!! I didn't see that littlefeathers had already beaten me to that one! S**T!

 

[ 05. September 2003, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Graham X ]