by B. Rosie Lerner
Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturist… but harmless organism is not the cause of bark damageQ: I planted this cherry tree approximately 10 years ago. Is the green growth (lichens?) harming it? — Gordon Miller, Owensburg, Ind.
A: Your photo shows some bark damage and a large colony of lichens, but they are not the cause of the bark damage. Lichens are harmless symbiotic organisms composed of a combination of fungi and either algae or cyanobacteria. Together, they live as one organism and are only using the bark of your tree for anchorage; lichens are not parasites. More information on lichens can be found at
www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/1-12-04.html.
Q: I have recently identified a male persimmon tree on my property. I was wondering if a female could grow from the same root system or does it need to be planted on its own, and, if this is the case, do you know where I could purchase one?
Also, I have another tree that I thought was a plum tree. It bloomed before all the others and it does, in fact, have purple fruit but does not get very big. Is it a plum and just ornamental or are the fruits edible? It has all the identifications of a plum tree. — John Blickenstaff, Logansport Ind.
A: American persimmon trees primarily have separate male and female trees, but occasionally a particular tree may develop a few flowers of the other sex. Male trees are more likely to produce a few female flowers than vice versa.
Generally, to have reliable fruit production, it is best to have at least one tree of each sex. Purdue has an article illustrating the difference between male and female persimmon flowers at
www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/6-14-10.html. North American Fruit Explorers have a helpful list of nurseries for many species of fruit
www.nafex.org/supply_source.htm.
Of course, it is difficult to identify whether your other tree is a plum without seeing it. There are a few species of Prunus that would have small purple fruit but I cannot address its edibility without a correct identification. Your local county office of Purdue Extension can assist you in getting the plant identified. You’ll find the contact information for your county at
www.ag.purdue.edu/extension/Pages/Counties.aspx.
Q: We have black raspberries at my mom’s and would like to move them. When should this be done and what type of prep do I need to do to the ground for them? They have been there for over 50 years, and I would like to keep them. There are not as many bushes as there were and they need some help. — Phyllis Musgrave
A: Moving a 50-year-old planting of any species is likely to be a formidable, if not unwise task. However, the good news is that black raspberries are easily propagated by tip layering, and in fact, that is something they do quite naturally on their own.
To tip layer, dig a small hole several inches deep, insert the tip of a current season’s shoot or cane, and fill around it with soil. The tip will soon grow upward, while the bend of the stem that stays in the soil will grow roots. In early spring, you can sever the newly rooted plant from the original cane and transplant to the new location. You’ll find more information on raising raspberries at
www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-44.pdf.