Black Knot Disease

Here is an example of an advanced condition of black knot disease in a wild cherry tree.  Black knot affects at least two dozen species of cherries and plums in the United States.  This fungal disease restricts vascular flow within the tree and eventually causes dieback.  The best solution is to prune away any diseased branches, and totally remove them from the property.  This tree is doing OK at the moment, but it will eventally fall victim to the ever growing fungal condtion.