Cliona Woodbyrne asked 13 years ago
I have attached a photo of a strange development on my Autumn Flowering Cherry Tree. Is this a disease. I must mention that since I planted this tree two years ago it has been plagued with disease and while it flowers they are few and far between. I sprayed it regularly thoughout the season last year and now this funny branch has appeared. Should I dig the tree up and thrown it out and/or will it infect my other trees in the garden.
Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
The fact that this tree has a hedge behind it causes it to be damp longer and this increases the fungal infection.
The funnily shaped branch is not connected with the disease,but is a mutation of the bud that formed the branch, a phenomenon called fasciation.
It can happen with any woody species and is quite common on forsythia and willow.
Leave it be and it will usually wither eventually or cut it off.
