Plum Tree Brown Rot: Sanitation and Fungicide Timing

Plum tree has creamy circular mold on fruit, spreading to nearby fruit, causing shriveling and blackening. Expert identifies brown rot, a stone fruit disease. Sanitation is critical: remove all mummified fruit from tree and ground before spring. Prune dead wood. Fungicides exist but timing is crucial—apply at bloom.

Action Items

1. Clean up all dropped and attached mummies now.
2. Prune cankered branches in late winter.
3. Apply labeled fungicide at blossom time next spring.

Good hygiene breaks the cycle.