Canker: A localized, dead area on the bark or stem of a plant, often caused by fungal or bacterial diseases.
Cankers are like wounds on a plant, but instead of healing quickly, they become spots where the plant tissue dies. They can look like sunken or discolored areas on stems or branches and sometimes ooze sap. Think of them as a sign that something’s not quite right with your plant, often a disease caused by a fungus or bacteria.
In your garden, it’s essential to watch for cankers. If you spot one, it’s best to prune away the affected branch entirely, cutting back to healthy wood. This helps prevent the disease from spreading to the rest of the plant. Good garden hygiene, like removing fallen leaves and debris, can also help prevent cankers from developing. Cankers can weaken a plant and make it more susceptible to other problems, so dealing with them promptly is key to keeping your garden healthy.
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