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I need help about my plum tree

jaynebownjaynebown Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hello I’m new to the forum , I need  help about my plum tree it is quite old and it has large vertical splits in the bark and has no branches no blossom has white patches on areas, has had no fruit for seven years now last lot of plums were small and all fell to the ground the fruit the previous years half the fruit had mould all over and had to be thrown away ,there just seems no life any help I would appreciate  
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Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Might need some photos of your tree including the bark where there are splits. It does sound like it is suffering, but not sure if it is old and getting tired and may need pruning to open up the shape to allow good air-flow. The description sounds like Brown Rot, so the tree may need pruning and thinning. This should be done in the summer months.

    Blossoms may have been damaged due to late cold weather. White patches could be a number of issues. 
  • jaynebownjaynebown Posts: 6
    Thank you in responding , how do I post pictures through 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I have only tried it on my mobile, so not sure with a computer. Click the rectangle shaped icon with the mountain shape inside. It then prompts something to pop up, and you select from your photo album. 
  • jaynebownjaynebown Posts: 6

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    You will need to reduce the photo, as too big will not load, there is an app for that.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited April 2021
    Many thanks for attaching the photos. It does look like the tree is on its last legs. The split and chunks of bark coming off are not good signs. Had there been oozing of any liquid? 

    The tree looks like it has had a lot of pruning, and doesn't look like it has responded. If you are not getting leaves, it's very likely it is dying. Sometimes, trees can deteriorate slowly and over many years, other times, they just never leaf up and die over winter.

    We have had some tough summers where many trees and shrubs have suffered, and some die due to lack of water, and the weather may have also weakened it. 
  • jaynebownjaynebown Posts: 6
    Yes there was oozing liquid coming from the plums
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    But no sap/ sticky substance coming out of the branches or cracks in the bark? 

    Either way, I would wait and see. But it does not look promising. If it is leafing up, I think the most important thing this year is to ensure there is enough water for it to grow over the summer. Remove dropped fruits and clear dead leaves around the base to manage re-infection.
  • jaynebownjaynebown Posts: 6
    No sticky substances from the bark just the white patches , there’s not even one leaf on the tree 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I'm afraid it is not sounding promising. Hopefully someone that may help with the white patches. From the photos, they do look like Lichen to me, and an indication of a tree that is not really thriving and very slow growing. The very top photo looks like some kind of fungus growth, and that usually signals that branch or area has already died back, but hopefully more forum users may offer more opinion on that. I think your tree is more or less dead.
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