Question
Hi Jim - We have a pink flowering almond tree and just noticed that the trunk and the majority of the branches have a thick dark substance, almost like pitch, but it's not sticky, but a harder substance.  This seems to be on most of the branches, and the green leaves seem to be at the ends only.  I don't know if this is a disease, and if so, we need to get it out immediately, so that it doesn't contaminate the rest of the flowers and bushes around it.  Please let us know as soon as you can.  Looking forward to hearing from you.  Patty


Answer
Sounds like black knot.
Black knot (Apiosporina morbosa) is a fungus that attacks the cherries, plums, apricots and almonds (i.e. Prunus spp.). Infections start in wounds in the bark. Usually the visible symptoms are manifest the following year. Hard black rough growths swell up around the wound and expand into sausage shaped masses. The 'knots' can both grow and spread into uninfected twigs. In the spring olive-green spores form on the knots.

Control
If the fungal knots start on large stems, or spread to them, the damage may become difficult to rectify. Knot - cankers on trunks can kill the tree. The best method of control is to prune off the infected twigs several centimetres back from the knot. These cuttings mst be disposed of, ideally they should be burnt. At any rate, pruning tools must be sterilised before being used on other trees.

Here is a web link to information with pictures of black knot.http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/fd4.htm