The Lawn Techs Blog

What’s this mess on my flowering plum tree?

Dibotryon morbosum or Apiosporina morbosa is a destructive plant pathogen aka Black Knot Disease. The source of the fungus is usually a wild, unpruned, infected tree releasing spores into the air. These spores then infect ornamental trees found in local landscapes.

Unfortunately, it’s a slow killer to mainly flowering plum trees, but also affects some cherry and other fruit trees. The disease creates rough, black growths that grow on the tree's twigs and branches. These ugly growths, called gals, will eventually kill the affected parts and then the tree over time.

The most common treatments are pruning infected parts and spraying the tree with a fungicide. This is easier said than done since ongoing pruning and fungicide treatments must be done. These treatments will only help the problem, not solve it. Nearby wild plants with the disease must also be destroyed. It will be more cost effective to let the tree slowly decline and then replace it with a different species.

This is one of the few problems that we cannot cure. However, there are 100’s of other insect & disease problems out there, and we can help!

1.888.LawnTec Plant Health Care Specialists

Preserve the value of your trees, shrubs, and plants! Landscape trees and shrubs can take decades to establish but can be irreparably damaged in a matter of an instant. In addition to robbing your yard of the beauty in which you take pride,...