Virtually any garden design can be improved by the inclusion of a fruit tree, or, if you have the space, a number of fruit trees. Fruit trees can produce the most amazing displays when in blossom and, of course, you have the advantage of it bearing edible fruit later in the year. If you are in the process of designing a garden and it includes a fruit tree, such as a plum tree, which produces pitted fruit it will be necessary for you to investigate ways in which to avoid disease as these types of tree are prone to be susceptible to disease.

A sadly common fruit tree disease is Brown Rot which is a fungus that appears on fruit. Usually it develops on fruit that has fallen from the tree and been left to rot. As Brown Rot is a fungus it can spread very quickly as fungus produce lots of tiny little spores which, due to their size, are highly mobile.

Fungus grows best in damp areas that do not have good air flow. The spores of fungus land on the area and quickly establish themselves and start producing more spores in a very short space of time. One of the best ways to protect your fruit tree from fungal infection is to prune it carefully.

Fruit trees should be pruned to create an open structure so that the fresh air can flow freely throughout the leaves and branches. Not only does such pruning help reduce the risk of fungal infection it can also ensure that the sunlight reaches all parts of the tree. By ensuring that all leaves get the maximum amount of sunshine helps to make the tree stronger and more able to withstand and fight off infection and disease.

As well as pruning to improve air flow it is important to prune any areas that show symptoms of fungal infection. Place any clippings in the bin or burn them immediately. Do not allow any infected material anywhere near your fruit tree and pick up any fallen fruit regularly so that it does not stand a chance of becoming infected.

Another fungal disease that can appear on a fruit tree is cytospora canker. Cytospora canker shows itself as dark patches of soft material on the branches of a tree. A large callus can form from which a substance, looking somewhat similar to gum, oozes from the bark. Usually cytospora canker appears close to or right on an old wound a it is during the healing process that it becomes infected by the pathogen.

Just like the treatment for Brown Rot the answer to cytospora canker is, again, pruning. It is incredibly important that you prune a fruit tree correctly. If it is done incorrectly you are simply inviting trouble as the wound will take far longer to heal and will be more likely to become infected. If a fruit tree is badly infected by cytospora canker the only option is to prune it back hard and hope for the best. Making sure that such pruning allows for the free flow of air and light will help speed up the healing process and therefore reduce the risk of fungal infection.

Brown Rot and cytospora canker are only two of several fruit tree diseases that can become something of a nuisance to any gardener, even the professionals can find themselves struggling. However the risk of infection can be vastly reduced by following the advice above. Obviously it is extremely important that you follow other tree care rules such as ensuring that your tree is supplied with sufficient water and nutrients but with just a little effort you can help your tree to grow strong and healthy.

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