Those ugly black lumps in your maydays and choke cherry trees could be a fungal disease called Black Knot. It is easy to see now and winter is the time to prune it. Branches pruned are best destroyed by burning.
The Alberta Government website has great information about how to identify and control this disease. If you suspect a tree on your property has black knot fungus, local companies can be contacted for help with identification and pruning.
The Town of Ponoka employs staff who plant and care for the Town’s parks, green spaces, trees, flowers and shrubs. These staff are also trained to recognize and deal with various tree diseases. For more information, please view the Black Knot Fungus Fact Sheet.
Thank you for doing your part to keep trees disease free.
