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Half dead plum tree
Peanuts3
Posts: 759
We have a plum tree that is half dead, in the last few days the few leaves that were on it have gone yellow and not looking great.
I have noticed there is a new shoot that has formed and I'm wondering if we cut it back to that would that new shoot become the leader and be strong enough.
The reason we've left the tree is we love its shape and how it arches out over the path, so it would be a shame to lose that, but I feel it might be an issue of safety soon.
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Anything above the graft will be a proper plum tree but it will never have a proper tree shape and it may continue to die back. I'd have it out.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I can't see where the new shoot is coming from: is it from the base of the tree? If so, it could be a shoot from the rootstock rather than from the top growth of the tree, so it probably wouldn't give you edible plums - and anyway, would take forever to make a decent shape tree. To be honest, if it were my tree I think I'd start afresh...
I have the same problem. My plum has been dying for several years. Unfortunately, Plums are notorious for dying off. They get black knot and other diseases. Mine has a canker. But a short-term acquaintance who happened to be an arborist pointed out that these things I thought were annoying weeds around the base were actually baby plum trees! Trees are amazing. They propogate themselves when they know they are dying off so I am currently allowing (ONE) offshoot tree to grow and see what happens as next year I will (sadly) have to cut down the plum I planted with my own two hands and feet 15 years ago
New Gardener5 - the arborist should have told you that all those baby trees will be growing from the rootstock and will not be the cultivated plum variety that the tree is/was.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Dove, I believe he did. He said the new tree might just be plain green (no beautiful leaves or plums, etc)l. Was that what you meant?
That's the way it goes NG. The cultivated plum is grafted onto a wild one for the rootstock. I don't know if the plum would grow from cuttings but grafting is the way it's done
In the sticks near Peterborough
So NC, can I leave the mini plum tree growing as it is - with my now dying plum? I was - sadly - going to hack down the (dying) plum next spring but was going to leave the mini plum. I thought it was a brilliant idea. Let the smaller tree grow rather than having to buy a new (and here in the states) fairly expensive plum. It is only slightly off-centered from where I placed the original plum so I thought it was probably as good as it was going to get - though I wouldn't mind moving it in and over but I wouldn't take the chance of killing it off for a few inches. The mini plum is now about 8 feet tall. My dying plum (which is directly in front of it) is about 35/40 feet.
It depends what you want - if you're happy with a nondescript tree with green leaves which will probably get aphids but not have any blossom and fruit then leave it. However it will be hard to keep the other suckers from the roots down and just let the one grow.
I would dig it out, along with as much of the roots as possible, and dig in lots of organic matter to renourish the soil - it's probably pretty lacking in nutrients after having had a large plum tree growing there for 15 years.
I'd then plant a tree of my choice some distance away - it's not a good idea to plant immediately in the same place as one that has died as whatever killed it may remain in the soil and infect the new tree.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi, my sister has a problem with her Victoria plum tree, she says the leaves all have millions of little holes in in them. This doesn't seem to effect the fruit but she would like to know so she can get the correct prevention.
Hi Passionate - hopefully this will tell you what you need to know http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=86
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.