Plum Trees

Question

I received 3 plum trees from a friend about Nov. 2011. Put in ground right away in psring 2012. Trees leafed and bloomed about late spring but two trees lost leaves and one didn’t (kept leaves rest of year). Other two have white spots of fungus? on lower tree trunk area. Trees do not have brittle branches; they still feel alive. What can I do?

Answer 1

It is just lichen on the trunks. It is harmless. You see it very frequently on trees that are sick because they tend to be attracted to unhealthy trees, but they also grow on healthy trees so their presence does not indicate that the tree is sick. This article will explain more:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/fungus-lichen/treatment-tree-lichen.htm