Hi, I live in the UK and have a small Victoria plum tree growing against a wooden fence. The bark is covered with what looks like little oval shaped blisters. If pressed these blisters pop letting out a watery substance. The tree looks healthy enough at the moment but there is a shiny, wet look to some of the leaves. Any one know what this is and how do I treat it? Thank you, RoyC.
Photos please! Does your tree grow in a wet area? Any other symptoms, such as discoloration/malformation of leaves?
I will take a photo later as the tree is about eight miles away from here at my sons house. Not a wet area. tree is about six feet high, growing against a fence with bark chips around the root area. The only other symptoms are some of the leaves look shiny wet. This, whatever it is, is restricted to the bark, looks like brown scales that, when pressed burst and watery substance comes out. There is a cherry tree on one side and a pear tree on the other side, both of these trees are OK.
I'm wondering if the tree has an infestation of brown soft scale insects (Coccus hesperidum). These pests do produce a 'honeydew', sticky drippy stuff.
AIEEE!!! Oh my goodness...wow, that is pretty major scale action. Well...insecticidal soap and dormant oils are used for lesser hordes...but I'm thinking that this calls for the heavy artillery. Go to your local nursery and consult with the staff as to what chemical would be most effective and specifically safe for your plum. Good luck!!!
A good first step would be to put on a pair of rubber gloves and squash them all to death. The scale you can see on the bark are all adult females ready to, or in the process of, creating the next generation, you need to do as much as possible to interrupt that life-cycle. It is not as if they can run away like most other insects, and with a small tree like that it will take far less time than a trip to the shop to buy insecticide. Many insecticides will not be effective against scale, so if you go down that route get some expert advice first, as togata suggested.
I daresay that more than one application will be necessary to ensure getting 'em all. Yeah, maf, I do the squash technique with scale that appears on my orchids...ooh, but a strong stomach is required here! Gack.
Thank you all for your help. We will go with the squash em solution because:- A. Its the safest way with food crop. B. The wife likes to pop em, just like bubble wrap.
