My Young Plum Trees Have Shot Holes On The Leaves And Black Ants.

Question

They get full of healthy leaves in the spring, but shortly after, the leaves get full of holes that star as yellowish and turn brow and then the brown spot dissapear and leaves an empty space, and then shortly after the trees get sad and there are no fruits or more leaves. Please help. I’m so disappointed and frustrated.

Answer 1

This does sound like shot hole. This can be caused by a number of bacteria and fungi, so treatment can be difficult to pin down. Generally, most of the shot hole diseases have no cure. All you can do is maintain them to lessen symptoms. Treating with a fungicide and keeping all infected debris away from your tree.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/plum/managing-bacterial-spot-on-plums.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/plum/growing-plum-trees.htm

Your county extension can help you pin down exactly which species you are battling, which could help you tailor treatment to that specific disease. The bottom of this page contains a search form to find the closest one to you:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-extension-service.htm