did you buy it locally , if its only last year I'd go back to the supplier
I don't know whats wrong but hopefully someone will because it looks quite serious and I'd like to know as well :-(

There's obviously some kind of infection present, probably bacterial; it's possible that irregular watering may have caused a crack or split in the bark, and bacteria has entered through that, or some damage has occurred and allowed it to enter. The other possibility is Fireblight - check the interior of the affected woody stem and if its a foxy red colour, then it's Fireblight. This is still a notifiable disease, but most importantly, you need to establish whether it's Fireblight because that means you shouldn't replant with anything from the Rosacea family; this is quite an extensive family of plants, including things like Pyracantha, roses, cherry, plum and peach trees. If it's not Fireblight, you can either try cutting back to where the wood is healthy, or take the tree out and replace it.

Didn't Docbob have a solution for this sort of thing, Bamboo? Or is my memory playing tricks...another senior moment! lol.

I don't know, Spritz, if he did, I'm unaware of it. And once you've got bacterial ooze coming out, I'm not sure what you could do really.

Pamg we did buy it locally ( 20 miles away )

We have checked the bark Bamboo it's not red on the interior of the bark ....
I'm sure we will have to take it out , you can actually see this stuff running down the trunk it's yukky ... if you look at the photo you can see it dripping off that lower branch ........ the split is a good inch or more wide almost 18" long ...... it's such a shame , it had pretty double pink flowers last year :o(

Well if its not fireblight you can plant another one if you like - but it must be watered if there's no rain for 10 days, and for the first year that is absolutely critical - it'll need a minimum of 2 gallons a week during dry spells.

Thanks for your help Bamboo , I will take note of all you have said ... and another lesson learnt about fireblight .. :o)

That's really sad, Amy. The Nursery should be told - and you should definitely get a refund or a credit note if it's only a year since you planted it.

I will have words with them Barbara , this is the second time we have had a problem with trees from these people , the first time we didn't realise until it came into leaf that it wasn't the tree on the ticket ..we did take that back and get it changed ... it's very difficult to prove that you haven't mistreated a plant/tree/shrub .....

Yes, of course - I had a right old battle over that Rhododendron that just upped and died! I had the pot, the label, the receipt, and pieces of the shrub with me as well, and I was still told it was probably vine weevil and they didn't replace plants that got attacked. There were NO signs of them at all - and he was saying all this with a 'guarantee' notice on the wall behind him!

I won in the end - and was able to choose plants 'to the value of...' but I had to get a bit stroppy!

I always keep my receipts now , you can but try , we have one or two places that honour the guarantee but others will try to get away with it .. . .. I will avoid this particular one in future ......

I think you're wise - one poor quality tree, hmmm...but two? I'd steer clear once you've complained. I do hope you 'win', Amy.

dr bob was talking about a fungal infection 'canker' in chestnut trees a few weeks back or is my memory playing tricks too?

It certainly looks like a fungal infection. But dont know how to treat it.

It might be worth having a word with him, Amy, if Sbg remembers him having a solution, as well.

Thank's Sbg and Barbara I will see what he says .......

I've been so frantically busy I missed this question. This is possibly wind damage, the bleeding is most likely gummosis. Clean out with a sharp knife, put arbrex in the cut, support with a double string, wrap the wound with sealglaze tape.

Thanks Doctorbob .. .. I will try that this weekend ... .. thank-you for your kindness in answering my question .......

Great - I'd like to know if it works, and the tree recovers, Amy.

I,ll be happy to let you all know in the future .. :o)

Glad to know that your tree is doing so well now Amy.
Well done Doctor Bob :o))))))) !!!

Thanks TT , it's so nice to be able to ask experts advice when you need it .. :o))