Q. Our flowering plums have been infected by what was diagnosed
as “sooty canker” disease.
as “sooty canker” disease.
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| Sooty canker on Apple |
They were treated by arborists but the blight continues.
Infected limbs were cut until one of the trees needed to be removed entirely. I
am advised this blight has become epidemic in Las Vegas Valley. Is there a
solution to cure or at least treatment for sooty canker?
Infected limbs were cut until one of the trees needed to be removed entirely. I
am advised this blight has become epidemic in Las Vegas Valley. Is there a
solution to cure or at least treatment for sooty canker?
A. Be careful on any diagnosis of sooty canker. There are
a lot of natural things that can look like it and if you’ve never seen it
before or don’t have much experience around it, it can be easily misdiagnosed.
a lot of natural things that can look like it and if you’ve never seen it
before or don’t have much experience around it, it can be easily misdiagnosed.
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| Sooty canker on poplar |
Sooty canker disease causes limb
dieback and the bark of the dead limb to peel away revealing a black, sooty
powder on the wood. When you take your finger and rub against this black powder
it will come off on your finger and look just like soot from inside your
chimney.
dieback and the bark of the dead limb to peel away revealing a black, sooty
powder on the wood. When you take your finger and rub against this black powder
it will come off on your finger and look just like soot from inside your
chimney.
There are other natural black
“powders” on limbs which will also rub off on your finger. But sooty canker is
jet black on your finger and unmistakable once you see it. I will post a
picture of sooty canker on my finger on my blog so you can see what I’m talking
about.
“powders” on limbs which will also rub off on your finger. But sooty canker is
jet black on your finger and unmistakable once you see it. I will post a
picture of sooty canker on my finger on my blog so you can see what I’m talking
about.
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| Beginning of sooty canker on Mulberry |
I disagree, it is not an
epidemic in Las Vegas. It attacks a small number of trees every year at about
the same rate for the past 30 years. Many trees can become infected but we see
it most frequently on Mulberry and Poplar (cottonwood) and occasionally on Ash
and Elm.
epidemic in Las Vegas. It attacks a small number of trees every year at about
the same rate for the past 30 years. Many trees can become infected but we see
it most frequently on Mulberry and Poplar (cottonwood) and occasionally on Ash
and Elm.
I don’t remember seeing it on truly desert trees such as
Mesquite, Acacia or Palo Verde.
Mesquite, Acacia or Palo Verde.
It can be spread easily on
pruning equipment if the equipment is not disinfected between cuts and between
trees.
pruning equipment if the equipment is not disinfected between cuts and between
trees.
Be very careful when this is diagnosed. If a limb is dead, it is dead
and must be removed. We don’t want to be removing limbs with the wrong
diagnosis.
and must be removed. We don’t want to be removing limbs with the wrong
diagnosis.
how can i treat sooty cancer medication wise
It is a weak pathogen so copper fungicides like Bordeaux are recommended.