Troubleshooting
Damson 'Shropshire' problems — and how to fix them
Damson 'Shropshire' (Prunus insititia 'Shropshire') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Silver leaf and canker
This genus is prone to silver leaf fungus and bacterial canker, both causing dieback. Prune strictly in summer during dry weather and cut out infected wood promptly to limit spread.
Small fruit and stones
'Shropshire' fruit is small with a relatively large stone, so yields look modest by weight and stoning takes patience. Its concentrated flavour rewards the effort in preserves.
Plum moth maggots
Caterpillars of plum moth burrow into ripening damsons. Hang pheromone traps from late spring and pick up windfalls to break the pest's life cycle.
Branch breakage from heavy crops
Reliable cropping can overload and snap brittle branches. Thin congested clusters and prop or tie up heavily laden limbs to prevent damage in good years.
Prevent damson 'shropshire' problems before they start
Most damson 'shropshire' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for damson 'shropshire' in general rather than its problems? Read the full damson 'shropshire' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Damson 'Shropshire' problems — FAQ
Why is my damson 'shropshire' silver leaf and canker?
This genus is prone to silver leaf fungus and bacterial canker, both causing dieback. Prune strictly in summer during dry weather and cut out infected wood promptly to limit spread.
Why is my damson 'shropshire' small fruit and stones?
'Shropshire' fruit is small with a relatively large stone, so yields look modest by weight and stoning takes patience. Its concentrated flavour rewards the effort in preserves.
Why is my damson 'shropshire' plum moth maggots?
Caterpillars of plum moth burrow into ripening damsons. Hang pheromone traps from late spring and pick up windfalls to break the pest's life cycle.
Why is my damson 'shropshire' branch breakage from heavy crops?
Reliable cropping can overload and snap brittle branches. Thin congested clusters and prop or tie up heavily laden limbs to prevent damage in good years.