Cochrane gardeners should be mindful of an airborne tree fungus that is easily spread if not dealt with.
The ‘black knot tree fungus’, which primarily affects Schubert Chokecherry and Mayday tress in Cochrane, is most noticeable by its black, tar-like swellings that it leaves on the branches of the infected tree.
Pruning is best done when the trees are dormant, so gardeners are advised to monitor their trees early in the season — addressing infected branches by cutting them off 6-8 inches below the affected area and disinfecting pruning tools following.
According to Gerry Murphy, manager of parks and open spaces with the town, the explosion that has been observed this season in Calgary may be attributed to the moist conditions over the last couple of years.
“It’s not going away anytime soon but it can be managed and infected trees can live a long life if properly treated.”
If not treated, the tree will eventually die and the airborne spores will travel to neighbouring trees and infect them.
The Calgary community of Discovery Ridge is reported to have lost at least 50 trees to the fungus this season.
