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Plum tree fungus/mould

Carmichael.colinCarmichael.colin Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi, I’m looking for some advice on an ailing plum tree, which has been losing leaves to what appears to be a type of fungus or mould. There’s no fungus at the base of the trunk - I initially wondered if it might be honey fungus - but there is this grey white growth in patches on many of the branches. Does anybody know what this is and if there’s a treatment I could try. The tree is 40 years old, so I’m keen to save it if I can. Thanks in advance for your help.


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Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited August 2019
    That is lichen and is not a problem as it doesn't harm the tree.  Lichen is actually a sign that you have clean air.  However, I think you are probably right about it being a fungal issue, probably with the roots but the pruning in the past looks to have been rather haphazard with branches cut off leaving long branch stumps so it could have caught and developed Silver Leaf disease or canker, but can't really tell from those photos.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @BobTheGardener above ... the lichen is not a cause for concern ... however lichen does make itself at home on slower growing plants so its presence on your tree indicates that the tree isn’t totally happy. 

    The tree does look somewhat congested ... it could do with some remedial pruning but that shouldn’t happen until late May/June next year or the tree will be susceptible to Silver Leaf Disease 

    In the meantime any grass/weeds should be cleared from about its base so that there’s a clear circle about 1m in diameter.  A thorough drenching with several gallons of water and an organic mulch will help. Then in the spring a feed with Fish, Blood & Bone organic fertiliser and then pruning can commence in May. 

    Some photos of the top growth when it’s leafless in the winter might help us to suggest your best pruning strategy. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • claire_1965claire_1965 Posts: 2
    BobTheGardener said:
    That is lichen and is not a problem as it doesn't harm the tree.  Lichen is actually a sign that you have clean air.  However, I think you are probably right about it being a fungal issue, probably with the roots but the pruning in the past looks to have been rather haphazard with branches cut off leaving long branch stumps so it could have caught and developed Silver Leaf disease or canker, but can't really tell from those photos.
    I have a similar issue and suspect it's a fungal issue too. It's all over the tree branches, any suggestions where/how to start cutting without completely 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2020
    Hello @claire_1965 and welcome to the forum 😊 

    Can we see some photos of your whole tree and the areas of concern please?

    To upload photos click on the little ‘landscape’ icon
    and follow instructions. 

    If the pictures don’t appear reducing the size usually works. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • claire_1965claire_1965 Posts: 2
    Dovefromabove said:
    Hello @claire_1965 and welcome to the forum 😊 

    Can we see some photos of your whole tree and the areas of concern please?

    To upload photos click on the little ‘landscape’ icon
    and follow instructions. 

    If the pictures don’t appear reducing the size usually works. 
    Thanks for the reply. I will try to make them later this week, my husband is busy in the garden as we speak but he needs to get the ladder out for some good pictures. I will try to post them as soon as I can :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jeanne.gormanjeanne.gorman Posts: 2
    Hi - I believe my problem is similar.  It is a fruit tree, all the plums dropped off last year.  Here are photos of the branches and what is growing on them. I am grateful for any advice!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    That is also lichen.
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    jeanne.gorman said:
    Hi - I believe my problem is similar.  It is a fruit tree, all the plums dropped off last year.  Here are photos of the branches and what is growing on them. I am grateful for any advice!
    Hi @jeanne.gorman
    when did the fruit drop? Trees often drop any unfertilised fruit in the early summer so it may have been an issue with pollination. They can also drop fruit if stressed and we had a very dry April and May last year. The grey and yellow are lichen and definitely NOT a problem.
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • jeanne.gormanjeanne.gorman Posts: 2
    Thanks for responding @Butterfly66 I am posting on behalf of a friend - she's just sent this photo of what the fruit looked like - but also identifies the fungus as brown rot.  
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