Interesting comments about finding black knot on chokecherries but not Evans. I have seen it on chokecherries around here, and also come to think of it on pin cherries - which there are quite of few of on our property. I wouldn't be so concerned myself, and would go ahead and order some, as they're not that expensive, but I've gotten some other people here interested and feel responsible for them getting good trees. I've emailed the black knot question to DNA gardens and await a response. The lady did say last time "Yes Evans cherry and our other cherries would do well there. They like heat and humidity for growth. To protect from diseases aggravated by humidity you may want to spray your trees with our organic Neem oil product". A humid climate is what we have. And although we're in zone 6 it's a pretty cold zone 6, long winters with -10 to -15C (2 to 8F?) not uncommon.

Chokecherries seem to be prone to black knot. Depending on your climate, it could be a problem to you. I've got chokecherries that grow among pie cherries and plums in a bit of a jungle. Many of the older chokecherries have some cankers, and on occasion it will show up on a cherry. I don't recall seeing the plums showing any signs. But--I am in a very dry climate where moisture to aid in the spread of the disease is fairly uncommon. Since it has never bothered me, I've never done anything about it--didn't even know what it was until fairly recently. So, depending on your climate and the specific susceptibility of your trees, you may or may not have a problem. Still, if it is present in your area, you may want to take preventive measures. Otherwise, you could risk an infection, remove it as soon as you find it, then start treatments going forwards. Kocide is used as a foliar spray as a bacterial disease preventive/inhibitor on some crops, though it may be used at a lighter rate than when you dormant spray. Kocide doesn't cure an infection, so you must apply it before the infection takes hold to inhibit the initial infection or slow its spread. This means it is usually applied earlier in the growing season or just before the time the tree is most susceptible to infection. Nude Gardener: Many of the names listed are the trade names you would purchase the product under. Often they are capitalized. The chemical names are usually not capitalized, and sometimes, though not always, sound more "chemical-like". Many of these chemicals are sold in the garden sections of your favorite local stores and the big box stores, plus at garden centers/nurseries. If in doubt, do an internet search on the term and you'll find out pretty quickly whether you have a trade name or a chemical name, and you can quickly get the other name. Also read the label to see what crops and uses it is registered for. Unlike medicines, if the use you have planned is not labeled, it is illegal to use it for that crop/purpose. The blue stuff is copper sulphate, which is the active ingredient in Kocide. The crystals are not as easy to dissolve in water, but they do work in drains to kill tree roots. Kocide is formulated so that you can easily get the proper concentration of copper sulphate in water and to ease application. Some of these products are not sold for the home market. Sometimes they present a greater safety risk, so they will not be sold to homeowners who are not expected to have any knowledge in proper use and safety with pesticides (I'm not saying home users don't use them properly, but nothing says a home user HAS to know how to use the product, so mis-use is more likely). Others will not be sold to the homeowner because the companies deem the market to be too small, or the EPA is trying to limit exposure potential to the general public. Commercial formulations will be packaged in larger quantities and concentrations for use by commercial growers. However, if the product is labeled for the crop you have and will use it on, it is perfectly legal to purchase it from a farm supply. The main drawback is that it will generally come in packages that will treat a number of acres, which means a 20 year supply for the home gardener. If you are purchasing a commercial grower's product, you may need a private applicator's license, depending on your state's laws. If you do, the cooperative extension service in many states handles the training and/or testing for these licenses, so you can check with them to get certification and a license. The private applicator's license where I am is pretty common. It takes about a half day of classroom instruction on the safe use of pesticides, calculating application rates, reading labels, etc.

My friend built his pond under a 40 foot Black cherry tree and hasnt lost any fish in the 4 years he's had it . I made the mistake of planting a dwarf Plum tree near my pond . It is now as high as the roof of my house and drops tons of plums into the water . The rotting fruit make the fish drunk . They do eat some of it but what a pain trying to scoop out all the plums and seeds . Its to big to net the pond or the tree . Also in the spring the top of the water is white with flower pedals and then the leaves in the fall . Plant something else . Rick

prune prune prune...make sure you get well below the black knot ...I had it on a plum tree (hybrid) about 5 years ago..i've yet to see anything come back.