Including a fruit tree or two in your garden design can add a great deal of interest and beauty. Even in the smallest garden it is possible to buy small fruit trees or fruit trees that have been cleverly grafted together onto rootstock that ensures that it remains a manageable size. Some can even be grown in containers, which can be extremely useful, for gardens in areas wish have a cooler climate, as it means that a tree can be moved into a greenhouse during the winter months. If you choose to grow a type of fruit tree that bears pitted fruit (cherry, plums and the likes) you will need to learn a little about how to avoid disease as these trees can prove a little more susceptible than other types.

Brown Rot is rather a common disease seen on fruit, especially fruit which has fallen from the tree and been left on the ground. This fruit tree disease can be rather difficult to eradicate as it is a fungus and as such produces a very large amount of spores. These spores are incredibly small and can travel a surprising distance and once it appears on fallen fruit it can quickly spread to the main plant and will, eventually, appear on the fruit still on the tree.

For fungus to grow successfully it requires the right conditions which are mainly areas which remain damp and offer a suitable source of food. Obviously there are many parts on a fruit tree that could prove to be highly suitable and it is for this reason that an outbreak of Brown Rot can spread so quickly. Luckily we can help to reduce the suitability of the environment for fungal growth by simply pruning the fruit tree correctly.

To allow the free flow of air, and thus reduce dampness, it is necessary to prune fruit trees so that they are open. Once the tree has been pruned it will have an open structure that will also allow the sunlight to reach deep into the heart of the tree. Obviously a tree that is looked after well, and is given sufficient quantities of water, nutrients and sunlight, will grow well and be more able to withstand infection.

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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