Hello, In North Vancouver an Italian Prune Plum - Victoria- which I planted approximately 10 years ago is in trouble. Noticed yesterday 5 vertical splits in the bark at least 6 inches long. Sap is oozing out and there were sow bugs gathered along the cracks. What is happening? This has been a good tree - attractive and a good producer. It sits in a circle of perennial geraniums in a lawn - some sun and some shade. Could it be the record breaking rainfall which has saturated the ground? Or is it likely a disease? In any case what is the best ( if any) course of action to preserve this tree? Thanks Jen Mckee
if there are sowbugs near or in the cracks that would likely be an indicator of internal decay. if you can, have a knowledgeable person have a look and see if there is anything to be done. cracks may or may not need or benefit from support. The cause of the cracks can be hard to determine but thats more important than the cracks themselves as you need to eliminate the cause not the effect.
If the wood is actually cracked maybe it broke in the recent winds. The orientation of the branch above the affected area would presumably be different than before. If it's just the bark that's cracked, and especially if there is gumming that would imply a bacterial infection. http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=919 'Italian' and 'Victoria' are two different varieties by the way, perhaps by "Italian" you mean European plum (as opposed to Japanese plum).
