Hi Ecostar,
I suspect your plum tree has scales. They are an insect pest. The sap you see is actually their waste that is called honeydew. Ants and bees harvest the sweet honeydew and will defend the scales from predators. Eventually the honeydew grows a black mold called sooty mold. Is this what you see?
http://treegrowersdiary.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.treegrowersdiary.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/PLP-antonscales51706.jpg&target=tlx_pic9u51
If so, you can use either a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Both would be safe aruond children. I would suggest an horticultural oil called Organocide made from sesame seeds. Most horticultural oils are made from petroleum. The best time to spray the oil is in May. In the meantime you can make your own insecticidal soap. Be sure to use soap and not detergent as that can harm the leaves. Spray every 5 to 7 days until they die off and spray early in the day before bees or other beneficial insects become active.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-insecticidal-soap.html
You can see more pics of these pests here, the site I got the picture from.
http://treegrowersdiary.com/purpleleafplum.html
Newt
Last edited on Sat Aug 18th, 2007 03:54 am by Newt
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