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What is happening to my plum tree?

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

This has developed in the past 4-5 days. One branch has died back -- is the tree doomed? There was one insect on it, a black beetleish with bright red chevrons -- flew away before I could get a snapshot (now I am sure that was a boxelder bug, so not part of the problem)

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Comments (4)

Jean
6 years ago
Perhaps gummosis, common in prunus species. And/or overly wet soil.
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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked Jean
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
We did have several strong downpours this last week, but the tree is in a pot because of the poor drainage in the yard.

Looking up gummosis, it seems that there is no direct treatment. I will scrape away at a spot of the ooze and look at the underbark for signs of insect or death from fungus. It is oozing at several spots on the main trunk -- I fear that I will lose the tree. And this is the first year it has set fruit!

Perhaps I should just take it out so it doesn't spread to the peach, although that is about 50 feet away.
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I think you do have PC on your plums. Those plums will drop. You can pick those plum now and cut them open to see if you find any larvae inside. Pick up all dropped plums and throw them in the trash so they can't extend their life cycle in the ground. Here's some reading. Here is a link that might be useful: Plum curculio
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Here is a picture of the inside. I thought it may be brown rot because of the rain but the flesh on the dark side is hard and sour. Wouldn't BR make it soft and mushy?
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I think the damages on the leave look like the work of worms/caterpillars. Many work during the night. If you go out with a flashlight, you may catch them in action. Hope you compare those bugs with pictures of ladybug's stages. Floral is probably right.
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We really do need to see photos to determine what is going on, otherwise we are just guessing and you then may be following advice that is not appropriate or could even prove harmful. FWIW, horticultural oil is NOT a suggested treatment for borers.......if that is what you have. Because the larvae tunnels (bores) into the wood of the tree, any sort of topical approach has to be carefully considered and timed to have any effect. The bugs are not inside the bark....they are inside the tree and it often requires a systemic (seldom recommended for edibles) to ensure effective control. And the appearance of sap - aka gummosis - can arise from a multitude of conditions, not all of them serious or requiring treatment. Photos, please!!
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Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
6 years ago
Some borers can do this...not sure if you're effected, here we see this from winter injuries.
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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
treenutt
6 years ago
The reason I quit fruit trees. The very second the tree is weakened from anything from stress caused by MN, or not quite for your zone, or critters living in or trespassing in your yard or some kind of disease. The borers will attack. If you don't do your scheduled spaying, then once they get inside, they are pretty much at home.

Only the methley plum out performed the little suckers. They still attack it, but the tree grew so fast, it didn't really matter. My peaches, apples, nectarines all were attacked at some point and the borers tore them up to a point I just cut all of them down. The problem was I didn't live there.

Good Luck.
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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked treenutt

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