Plum tree infestation? - Ask Extension
We have a mature plum tree and just discovered that it is full of holes. Oddly enough, all the new growth of leaves does not have them. We cannot find...
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Plum tree infestation? #872207
Asked June 08, 2024, 3:52 PM EDT
We have a mature plum tree and just discovered that it is full of holes. Oddly enough, all the new growth of leaves does not have them. We cannot find any sign of bugs. I also just discovered that the container plants on my deck which are about 40 feet from the tree are also full of holes. You can see where it started with a Coleus plant and jumped to another plant.
Picture attached.
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Sue and thanks for your question and pictures of your plants with leaf holes. It is unlikely that they would be caused by the same disease, as there is not much a Coleus plant and a plum tree have in common. The Coleus holes are pretty classically a fungus which is working on killing the whole plant. I'm not sure there is anything you can do at this point for the Coleus.
The holes in the plum tree seem pretty minor and only affect the older leaves, so unless the problem spreads I don't think you need to worry about it. Holes in fruit tree leaves can be caused by many things including fungus, bacteria, virus, chemicals, insects and hail. Keep an eye on the new leaves and pick up any fallen leaves to dispose of. If the fruit is affected or the problem becomes worse, send some more pictures and we'll re-evaluate.
The holes in the plum tree seem pretty minor and only affect the older leaves, so unless the problem spreads I don't think you need to worry about it. Holes in fruit tree leaves can be caused by many things including fungus, bacteria, virus, chemicals, insects and hail. Keep an eye on the new leaves and pick up any fallen leaves to dispose of. If the fruit is affected or the problem becomes worse, send some more pictures and we'll re-evaluate.
