What Is Canker Disease

A ‘canker’ is really a symptom of an injury often associated with an open wound that has become infected by a fungal or bacterial pathogen. Canker diseases frequently kill branches or structurally weaken a plant until the infected area breaks free, often in a wind or ice storm.

What causes canker on trees?

A fungus that enters the tree and grows between the bark and the wood killing the bark generally causes cankers. However, cankers can also be caused by damage from weed eaters, lawnmowers, chemicals, insects or environmental conditions. The canker itself makes the tree highly vulnerable to bacteria, fungus and insects.

How do you treat canker fungus?

Treatment of bacterial canker is generally mechanical, with the infected branches being removed using sterile pruning tools. Wait until late winter, if at all possible, and cauterize the wound with a hand-held propane torch to prevent reinfection by bacterial canker.