[erikaz1]

I've just been for a wander round the garden and spotted the greengage tree is looking a bit silvery and has split bark. Does anyone know what this is and how do I fix it?

[jambop]

That does not look good... in fact I reckon its had it   Some sort of canker looks like the tree is dead under the bark. Never seen silver leaf could it be that ?

[Swing Swang]

I'm no expert on canker, but I'm not 100% convinced it is canker - could just be split bark which is better news and may be due to the amount of rain we've had this year (or some other stress factor). If you think that you're going to lose the tree anyway then it might be worth waiting for a dry day (ha ha!) and cutting around the lesion with a Stanley blade then cleaning out the dead material and letting the tree scar over naturally. If it's canker then you're likely to see discoloured cambium and you'll just keep enlarging your area of 'surgery' until you get to the healthy cambium. If it rings the tree then it's a gonner unfortunately. If it does ring the tree as a last attempt to save it then you could cut it back to just above the scion and it could well sprout again - if it is canker and it's gone all the way to the scion then it's as good as dead anyway. Having said that please don't do anything drastic based only on my 'advice'  - greengages are my favourite and I'd hadt you to do anything unnecessary.

[jambop]

I'm no expert on canker, but I'm not 100% convinced it is canker - could just be split bark which is better news and may be due to the amount of rain we've had this year (or some other stress factor). If you think that you're going to lose the tree anyway then it might be worth waiting for a dry day (ha ha!) and cutting around the lesion with a Stanley blade then cleaning out the dead material and letting the tree scar over naturally. If it's canker then you're likely to see discoloured cambium and you'll just keep enlarging your area of 'surgery' until you get to the healthy cambium. If it rings the tree then it's a gonner unfortunately. If it does ring the tree as a last attempt to save it then you could cut it back to just above the scion and it could well sprout again - if it is canker and it's gone all the way to the scion then it's as good as dead anyway. Having said that please don't do anything drastic based only on my 'advice'  - greengages are my favourite and I'd hadt you to do anything unnecessary.

I think that there is more than just what is being shown in two pictures ! This tree looks to have serious issues. The bark of the tree is breaking away around every branch that can be seen in these two photos.

[erikaz1]

None of those things sound too promising The bark has become noticeably silvery in appearance too. Are any of these things contagious? I've got a lot of other fruit trees in the garden and I'll be devastated if they're all at risk. The Denbigh plum has come on really well since I planted it so I really hope that survives.