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Plum Tree - Disease ?

s4m.4ndersons4m.4nderson Posts: 6
in Problem solving
I have rediscovered a mature plum tree in my garden. Couple of issue - some branches are clearly dead (brittle & break off) and have spotted this 'weeping?'. Would appreciate help to identify. 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    The resin is produced by prunus species in response to damage of some kind, such as borers, sap-sucking insects or physical damage, and is the tree equivalent of a scab on our skin.  If it stays like that there is nothing to worry about but if more or larger patches appear and are constantly dripping sticky sap, then there could be a problem.  The bark actually looks more like a cherry than a plum but I could well be wrong. :)
    As for the dead material, wait until mid-summer and cut it all out, cutting back into unstained, healthy wood, just above a side branch, bud or shoot.  Large branches should be removed close to the trunk, flush with the 'collar'.
    If it grows healthily next year then job done but if more sections die back then we'll need photos of the whole tree, close-ups of damaged sections and of a cut made through a branch that is currently dying back in order to make any sort of diagnosis.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • s4m.4ndersons4m.4nderson Posts: 6
    Thankypu !!! Will do. BTW the 'PictureThis' app identified it as Damson Garden Plum (European Plum). 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Could well be a Damson - pretty tough trees if so. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • s4m.4ndersons4m.4nderson Posts: 6
    Tale of 2 Trees. Growing in neighbours garden branches hanging in mine until the winds yesterday. Not far away from the 1st tree. Looks like big chunk of fungus .... any thoughts ?

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  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Sorry @s4m.4nderson those links aren't working.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • s4m.4ndersons4m.4nderson Posts: 6

  • s4m.4ndersons4m.4nderson Posts: 6
    It looked as though I’d posted real images ! As they in these parts ‘it was ok when it left here just like the titanic’ 😁
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited May 2020
    The heartwood of whatever tree those bits came from is rotting and infected by a bracket fungus (that it the fruiting part - most of the fungus is inside the tree.) As you can see, this weakens the tree to a point where the heartwood can no longer support the weight of the leaves and windy conditions cause such weakened branches to fall.  All your neighbour can do is cut out all of the rotten branch material but if the main trunk is affected, the whole tree will eventually come down (often without warning, even in still conditions.)
    The good news is this type of fungus doesn't infect nearby trees, except by releasing spores which will only germinate and grow on already dead wood.  Removing dead wood from otherwise healthy trees is done to prevent fungi like this taking hold.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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