Deadly Fruit Tree Disease
Adding a fruit tree, or two, to a garden can greatly enhance both it's beauty and it's usefulness. A fruit tree is highly suitable for use as a specimen tree in your garden design for a number of reasons. Obviously producing your very own organic produce is always going to be a worthy bonus but before the fruit can develop, at the very first stages of the cycle, a fruit tree produces blossom. Any tree in blossom can be a spectacular sight and each and every year you will find yourself looking forward to spring so that you can witness the event.
Fruit trees not only benefit ourselves. They can be a fantastic for all kinds of wild creatures such as bees, who get nectar from the blossom, birds and other animals. Imagine how wonderful it would be being able to admire such wildlife from the comfort of your own home. That is, of course, if your fruit tree does not develop a deadly disease.
Unfortunately many a fruit tree can become disease ridden in a very short time if it is not cared for properly. Many diseases are caused by fungal infection. In the case of the diseases known as blossom wilt, brown rot, spur blight and twig blight, the fungus responsible is called Sclerotinia laxa (although, in the case of brown rot, the fungus known as S. fructigena is rather similar to Sclerotinia laxa in the vast majority of cases the later will be responsible).
Much is known about the four diseases mentioned and a great deal is known about the fungus but, sadly, there is no known treatment, or fungicidal spray, available the is suitable for use on a fruit tree. It is therefore vitally important that you understand a little about the fungus and what to do to minimize damage if it appears.
Of course there are fungicides available that will help keep down aphids and help against other diseases and ensuring that fruit trees remain healthy can greatly help if it becomes infected with fungus such as Sclerotinia laxa.
What Can Be Done To Control Fungus On A Fruit Tree?
Because there are no sprays available it incredibly important that you cut out any cankers or infected shoots that appear, as early as possible. Do not place the waste in your compost bin as the fungus will just spread. You can put it in a bin but it is best to burn it with other garden rubbish to ensure that it is completely destroyed.
It is very important that you keep a close eye on your fruit tree throughout the year. Vigilance is the key to success here and even in the winter months it is possible to spot cankered twigs that may not have been visible earlier in the year.
Always ensure that fallen fruit is cleared from around the tree as soon as you notice it. Even though a fruit tree thick with produce and surrounded by fallen fruit with creatures feasting upon it is a most wonderful picture, sadly rotting fruit can be a breeding ground for all types of harmful bacteria and fungus capable of causing deadly diseases in your fruit tree.
Even it you are incredibly diligent it is not always possible to keep such an aggressive fungus from your tree and it is not really known how effective the above methods are at protecting a tree. This is because the slightest amount of fungus left on a tree can very quickly establish itself and quickly produce masses of spores which are very easily dispersed to other areas of your poor tree. However, as a fruit tree can be an expensive plant to replace, it is important that we try whatever we can to protect it.
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