I need help to iID a disease and it's tree!

12 years ago

Hi,

When we moved into our house in 2003 there was a tree on one corner. It was planted when the house was built in 1999. It is a deciduous tree with leaves that start out green and in late May/early June turn purple. It has small berries too, that the birds love. I have never tried them.

The last three years or so I have noticed more and more of the branches get infected by some sort of disease. I don't know what disease it is. Could it be some kind of canker?

What disease is it and is it treatable or do I have to take down the tree? What variety tree is it? I am trying to attach two pictures to help answer the questions. Help is very much appreciated.

Hilde

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Comments (7)

hilde_wny
Original Author
12 years ago
How do I post a 2nd picture? Do I have to upload it to some other website and link to it?

Hilde
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
Hard to tell at that resolution but looks like Prunus and black knot to this Westerner.

Hosting service is required for better and more pix. I use Photobucket.

Dan
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hilde_wny
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Dan! I will see if I can upload the pictures to some site, the 61K file size offered by GardenWeb was very small. Is black knot treatable?

Hilde
buckeye15
12 years ago
Dan is right...it is Black Knot of Prunus. Can't tell from that photo, but from the description is sounds like Prunus virginiana 'Shubert' or 'Canada Red'
hilde_wny
Original Author
12 years ago
I did a google search on Black Knot and Prunus Virginiana and you are right! Thank you so much! I see a site mentions that you have to remove all infected branches and sterilize the equipment every time you cut off a branch. Does that sound right?

Hilde
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
Yup. Remember how you did it as you'll do it again.

Dan
kimpa zone 9b N. Florida.
12 years ago
Here is info from my county extention office: http://agsci.psu.edu/fphg/stone/diseases/black-knot

I have 2 sand cherry tree/shrubs that I have been fighting but now have lost the battle. I will not be planting them again.