Help! What's happening to my precious plum tree?

twopenny

Went out to look to see if I've got any fruit setting only to see - not only very few plums (3) but something is wrong with the tree itself.

  

 

It's a Dunster Plum, should be small size, planted 2yrs ago as bare root and it's thrived. First year 2-3lbs of plums. Last year none but all leaves covered in plum aphids like a mat but it didn't loose any leaves. This year blossom but little polination. It has roots in the shade and top in the sun. The surrounding plants are away from the roots by 2ft all round.

This is new - brown sticky shiny sap ooozing out of what looks like bud points several times on several branches and the bark on the trunk has split.

At the moment it is on two or three branches on one side so they could be removed but if this is within the tree it could pop out on other branches.

Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do about it if anything?

Or is all lost?

conradmum

The lack of plums could be due to frosted blossoms. We've had a lot of frosty nights this spring. I think oozing sap is quite common on Prunus species and it might be due to nothing more than environmental stresses, like, again, frost. I don't think there's a lot you can do except wait and see what happens. Then, next spring, cover the tree in fleece on frosty nights when it's in flower.

twopenny

Conradmum thanks. I think this variety flowers earlier than my other. Also looks like it may have canker even though it's been a new young healthy tree.

We get very little frost here being at sea level and by the sea. Think it was before the blossom.

I've asked at the garden centre and they said canker, finally found a site describing it in detail and seems to fit. I'll prune when this wild weather stops and I can have a really good look. To go from so healthy to this in one winter is devastating.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/pest-disease/canker-bacterial.php

It's my tree to replace after moving, a 90yr old one in my last place that kept going despite all pests and diseases. A reminder of home. My heart sinks at having to start again with a younger tree and start moving them around the small garden but there you go.