A tree canker is a localized dead area on the bark, branches, or stems of a tree, often caused by fungi or bacteria. These cankers can appear as sunken, discoloured, or cracked areas and can girdle branches or trunks, disrupting the flow of nutrients and water. This can weaken or kill branches and, in severe cases, lead to the tree’s death. Managing tree cankers involves pruning infected areas and improving the tree’s overall health to resist infection.