Help! plague on fruit trees is slowly killing them.

[ChrisSP2000]

Good morning to all.

Is anyone able to identify this fungus (if it is a fungus!) as it's killing my young fruit trees. I planted two apples, two plums, a pear and a cherry five years ago. All are suffering now and in the case of the cherry you can see from the photo that it is bleeding sap (no sawdust so I don't think it's a grub).

Your advice on how I can get rid of it appreciated.

Thanks, Chris.

[bearded bloke]

I believe the algae is just a sign of clean air & does not damage the tree,however I could well be wrong.

[veggiechicken]

Its just a lichen - nothing to worry about. My trees are covered in it.
The bleeding sap looks like damage - maybe a broken off branch or bad pruning leaving a wound that hasn't healed.

[Nicos]

The first and third piccies are certainly a lichen which we have smothering our healthy trees and show signs of clean, pure air...so nothing at all to worry about.

Every tree here has it, and trust me- if it was a threat to the apple orchards and therefore needed removing, the French would have something really toxic to use...or something very ecological!


The middle photo however, doesn't look nice at all- is that a cherry tree it's on?
I think it's called cherry gummosis!
here - have a look at this and see if it looks the same...

Sticky Situations on Cherry Trees | Horticulture and Home Pest News


where are you located chris????...it might help if you could put your rough location in your profile- our members are mostly UK based, but some are from all over the world.

Oh- and by the way- how rude of me!!....welcome to the Vine

[ChrisSP2000]

Gentlemen, thank you for getting back to me so quickly.

Nicos, I live in rural West Wales so you're all right, the air is clean and this is borne out by the extensive fern growth in this area. Thanks for the link too. I think our cherry tree does have Gummosis.

What if any is the best treatment assuming that there could be a number of causes ranging from depression (did I really say that!), bacterial through to something fungal.

Chris.

[veggiechicken]

Croeso Chris
Sorry, don't know how to treat your cherry tree - maybe one of our fruit experts will be along soon!

[Nicos]

Sorry- no idea either chris- but we do have a few fruit experts on here as VC says...they'll probably arrive all at the same time if you hang on