Dwarf plum tree has bare branches with leaves only at tips

Question: We have a 5-year-old Stark Bros. Starking Delicious Dwarf Plum, which has produced the past 2 years (more last year than the year before). The branches are mostly bare with leaves only on the tips. The leaf nodes along the branches look as if they are burned off and have no leaves. We wondered if it was from frost damage or if it is something else?

responder: Julie Crick  Replied June 09, 2023, 9:34 AM EDT
response: Hi Daw, Because the leaves at the tips look green and healthy, this looks like frost damage. Did the buds along the branch ever produce leaves this year? Is the tree watered on a regular basis?  The hot temps could also have affected the buds along the branch if water was lacking.  Please examine the branches and look for darker areas, sunken areas, or anything out of the ordinary that might suggest a more serious issue. If nothing it apparent, I recommend waiting to see if the buds produce leaves, just a little later than expected.  Please do stay in touch.  Thank you, -Julie

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 10, 2023, 10:53 AM EDT
response: Thanks for responding. We will check into it further. Would you like an update?*****Find passion, purpose, and presence every day of your life. On Jun 9, 2023, at 9:34 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Julie Crick  Replied June 12, 2023, 5:06 PM EDT
response: Yes, an update would be nice. Generally, issues are not isolated, so further information on if it's frost or not will be helpful.  Thank you! -Julie

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 12, 2023, 7:03 PM EDT
response: Thanks so much for your help. I went out to see if there were any dark areas or sunken areas on the branches, and to take more photos, as some of the buds along the branches have produced some leaves. When I was looking closely, I did see big, dark spots, which upon closer review were clumps of small black ants. There were several places on the tree where ants were congregating. I assume they are eating sap. I took a picture that shows two clumps of ants. Then I used a stick to knock the ants off the clump on the left branch to see what was under the ants, and I took another photo. It does appear there is a small, dark streak where the ants had been.I will try to attach the photos.We haven’t sprayed the tree with anything yet. What should we use?Thanks again for all your time and concern. We love our little fruit trees but aren’t very knowledgeable.PS The second photo shows another clump of ants where the tree had been pruned in previous years. *****Find passion, purpose, and presence every day of your life. On Jun 9, 2023, at 9:34 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Julie Crick  Replied June 13, 2023, 12:30 PM EDT
response: The ants are likely feeding on sap as you observed. Just wondering what caused sap to run?  Please continue to monitor the plants, and keep watch for re-growth that would indicate this is frost damage.  If you find anything else of note, please do not hesitate to reach out.  Thank you, -Julie

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 13, 2023, 12:45 PM EDT
response: We don’t like to use pesticides, but I wonder if the ants will harm the tree. Should we spray insecticide on the bark to keep the ants off?*****Find passion, purpose, and presence every day of your life. On Jun 13, 2023, at 12:30 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Julie Crick  Replied June 13, 2023, 12:49 PM EDT
response: The ants won't hurt the tree. Ants take advantage of beneficial situations trees provide, like leaking sap, or inhabiting a large cavity, but ants rarely cause the damage that provides them fortune!  Insecticidal soap would be ok, so would a squirt from the hose as it would help to dilute the sap they are seeking.  -Julie

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 14, 2023, 7:19 AM EDT
response: Thanks. I thought ants were usually good for my garden. I really don’t like to kill ants, unless they are biting me, which they often do, so I generally just try to avoid their nests. I think I will squirt them with a hose in this case, although I imagine they will just come back. I wonder why the tree could be seeping sap? Maybe the ants have been there in previous years and I just didn’t notice them.PS My name is actually Dawn, but I couldn’t figure out how to correct it. *****Find passion, purpose, and presence every day of your life. On Jun 13, 2023, at 12:49 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Julie Crick  Replied June 14, 2023, 9:42 AM EDT
response: Best to keep watch over the area leaking sap to be sure it doesn't develop into something more.  Trees seal themselves off from wounds, the do not heal. So, best to not treat the area with anything or try to stop the sap yourself. Just keep watch, and stay in touch if anything changes.  Thank you, Dawn!! -Julie