[Arid_gardener] Patti's almond tree

[Genie]

Hi Patti,

I don't want to spook or sadden you, but please take a sample of your 
tree leaves to a botanical society or gardening
club for diagnosis.  Those brown spots that become holes... sounds like 
"shot leaf virus".  Way in the back of my teeny
tiny brain, I seem to recall that it's formal name is xanthomonas pruni 
(spelling?)  Anyway, the disease affects pitted
fruit trees (plum, apricot, nectarine, etc.), and almond trees. There is 
a treatment, but until you have a firm diagnosis,
do NOT fertilize the tree, or drench it with too much water.  You may 
also want to inspect the tree -- looking for a
canker (which will appear like a split knuckle).  Water and fertilizer 
will make it ooze.  And finally, the disease is highly
contagious.  Do NOT purchase/plant new trees near this little guy, until 
you know his fate.

If you reside in Tucson, plant/tree specialists can be found at Tucson 
Botanical Gardens.  If you reside in Phoenix,
someone in this group will jump in with suggestions. 

Good Luck, Patti.  Don't be too sad... with early detection, you have 
saved the little guy's life.
PS:  Big ants molest trees; chewing off the leaves -- then carry them to 
their nest.  First, get your tree diagnosed...
then we'll tackle your "ant problem".  (If the ants are small, they may 
be attracted to the sappy ooze coming from
your sick tree.)

Genie - in Tucson         

>Message: 1
>Date: Fri, 5 May 2006 18:58:42 -0700
>From: Patti Ahlman <ppuhalla at cox.net>
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] leaf damage - almond tree
>To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>Message-ID: <D80A822A-DCA3-11DA-8337-00039389BF52 at cox.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
>We have a young almond tree (planted this spring) which has leafed out 
>nicely.  However, we constantly battle ants on the tree itself, and now 
>many of the leaves have either holes in them or brown spots on them 
>that eventually become holes.  Some of the damage is on the edges of 
>the leaves, but there is are a lot of spots in the middle of the leaf.  
>Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
>
>Thanks, Patti
>
>  
>
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