I have a flowering plum, purple leaves, three years old and I noticed a hole in the outer bark, rust colored around the edges. I treated it with pepper spray, but now I see the whole lower trunk and limbs have tears and ruptures of rust colored material, as if the trunk is bursting. Is this growth or a disease and how should I treat it? The hole healed over, regular grey bark. Otherwise the tree is healthy, although the leaves are small. I think they've always been small. Any info, advice? Pamelab52
This may be Euopean canker , a fungal disease. The first defence is to cut out the canker with a clean knife, taking care to disposeg of the debris by bagging and placing in the garbage. Avoid cutting during wet weather! Spray with a copper spay 50-53%at 6ml/L water as reommended by BC Minister of Agriculture Food and Fisheries, Home and Garden Pest Management Guide for BC (page 92 of the 2001 edition.)