Gummy cherry tree

[mad2gro]

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie desperate for some help!

I bought a Stella fan cherry tree from Ken Muir at the beginning of the year. I followed all the instructions, planted it against a south facing wall, shade from a tree for part of the day. After a few months it began to ooze sticky amber gummy stuff on the trunk at base of the tree and had another gummy bit at the back of the trunk. I wrote to Ken Muir and sent photos. They told me it was most probably be Gummosis, or possibly canker, but that the bark would peel, which it hasn't. The tree has now died and I've written back to Ken Muir for advice, but heard nothing as yet.

Internet searches found stuff about a boring insect that affects peach trees and canker.

I love cherries and would like to plant another one, but am worried. The tree cost me £40 so I'm pretty miserable - my Dad has a fan Stella that does really well just a few miles away.

I've attached a picture of the gummy stuff before it fell off (after heavy rain) and a couple of weeks before the tree actually gave up the ghost.

Should Ken Muir give me a new tree or is it just bad luck?

Any help or advice would be very, very welcome!

Thanks.

[seasprout]

Ho dear.

The amber coloured ooze is called Gummosis (spelling?) It is a classic symptom of Bacterial Canker. It is a terminal disease of the prunus family.

It is possible your soil is infected or another plant infected member of the prunus family is near by and aphids gave it to yours. However i would definitely contact Ken Muir, they are a big firm who i'm sure would want to know about his.

Keep your dead tree in case they want it back, in-fact look back through the catalogue to see if they have a money back guarantee.


In fact ive just blown up your 1st photo for a closer look and its appears the graft was infected, and it has destroyed the trees ability to take up water.

However i recommend you dont plant another cherry, plum or green-gage in the same area. Ask KM for advice.

Sorry its bad news. , but do let us know how you get on & Welcome to the Vine

[mad2gro]

Thanks Seasprout, I took your advice and contacted Ken Muir. They're going to send me another tree in Nov/Dec. I can't fault them, they were very nice. I sent them a shrivelled leaf, in the hope that they will test it and confirm the problem (their suggestion).

It was suggested by KM that if I really want to plant the new tree in the same place to first treat the soil with ***** fluid. They did say somewhere else would be best however. Do you think I could get away with the ***** idea? The spot I had is the best place for sun, space etc. Do you think ***** will damage plants nearby?

[seasprout]

The main problem with ***** Fluid is that it stinks pretty foul, and the smell lasts a while.

You could find a bottle of Miltons fluid and have a read on the back. That might work.

I would suggest you try to replace as much of the soil from where your dead tree was originally, put in plenty of compost.

Your original photo showed gummosis oozing from the graft wound, now to me that showed an infection in the graft wound, not something the tree caught from your garden.

I think the Gardeners prayer applies here, your new tree has two chances, live or die.


Now what were you doing up at that ungodly hour..??

[valmarg]

I agree with seasprout, ***** Fluid is far too harsh, and would suggest Armillatox as an alternative. If you go to armillatox.com, you will be able to find the dilution rates.

valmarg

[mad2gro]

Thanks for those helpful replies. Armillatox looks like an interesting product - I hadn't heard of it before, but expect I'll be able to find it at a garden centre? It should be fair tomorrow, so might get some of the old soil dug up. I guess I have to find somewhere to dispose of it though.

It would make more sense that the tree came with the infection, I can't see any plum or cherry trees in the neighbouring gardens. My neighbours have lots of lovely flowers and shrubs, none appear to be turning their beautiful back gardens into allotments like me!!