Troubleshooting
Prunus 'Spire' problems — and how to fix them
Prunus 'Spire' (Prunus 'Spire') 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.
Bacterial canker
Gummy, sunken bark lesions and shot-hole leaves; prune out infected wood in dry summer weather and avoid winter cuts.
Silver leaf
Fungal disease giving silvered foliage and branch dieback; restrict all pruning to summer to reduce infection risk.
Aphids
Distort soft spring growth and leave sticky honeydew; usually controlled by predators, or wash off heavy colonies.
Cherry blackfly
Severely curls and blackens young leaf clusters in spring; tolerate light attacks as the tree grows away from the damage.
Prevent prunus 'spire' problems before they start
Most prunus 'spire' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for prunus 'spire' in general rather than its problems? Read the full prunus 'spire' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Prunus 'Spire' problems — FAQ
Why is my prunus 'spire' bacterial canker?
Gummy, sunken bark lesions and shot-hole leaves; prune out infected wood in dry summer weather and avoid winter cuts.
Why is my prunus 'spire' silver leaf?
Fungal disease giving silvered foliage and branch dieback; restrict all pruning to summer to reduce infection risk.
Why is my prunus 'spire' aphids?
Distort soft spring growth and leave sticky honeydew; usually controlled by predators, or wash off heavy colonies.
Why is my prunus 'spire' cherry blackfly?
Severely curls and blackens young leaf clusters in spring; tolerate light attacks as the tree grows away from the damage.