Purpleleaf Plum Care. The purpleleaf plum is a relatively short-lived tree, lasting only around 20 years, and it requires a bit of maintenance.
What is the life expectancy of a plum tree?
Plum | 10-25 years*
Do purple plum trees lose their leaves?
Purple Leaf Plum Tree Characteristics
The plum tree classifies as a medium-sized, deciduous tree, meaning it drops its leaves at the end of the growing season.
What is the lifespan of a Japanese plum tree?
In general, varieties of Japanese plum have the shortest tree longevity (often 4 to 10 years) of all tree fruits grown in the state. Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae) and plum leaf scald are the two most serious diseases affecting plums.
How big does a Purple leaf plum get?
around 25′
The purpleleaf plum grows to a height of around 25′ and a spread of around 25′ at maturity.
When’s the best time to prune a plum tree?
spring
When to prune plums. Avoid pruning plums in winter, as it increases the risk of infection by silver leaf disease to which plums and other Prunus species are prone. The best time for pruning is usually spring for young trees and mid-summer for established ones.
How do you take care of a purple plum tree?
The Purpleleaf Plum should be grown in full sun on well-drained, acid soil to bring out the richest leaf color. It tolerates slightly alkaline soil. Tolerant of moderate heat and drought, it often succumbs to borers on poor, compacted soil.
Why is my purple plum tree dying?
Reasons Why Plum Tree Is Dying. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections are among the most common reasons why a plum tree may take a turn for the worst.
Are purple plum trees poisonous to dogs?
Plum Trees Pose a Bigger Risk Than the Fruit
The ASPCA’s database of toxic plants lists plum trees as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of the cyanide content. Again, the main risk comes from the stem, leaves, and roots of the tree, and the pit of the fruit.
How do you fertilize a purple plum tree?
Water them every two to three weeks during dry, hot conditions. Fertilize purple leaf plum trees in spring with 1/2 cup of 12-6-6 fertilizer if growth is slow. In sited in fertilized lawns, they probably don’t need additional fertilizer.
How do you revive an old plum tree?
To revive a dying plum tree, remove pests with chemical or organic sprays or kill them with insecticidal soap and water. Also, remove fungi-affected fruits and branches and spray them with fungicides. Lastly, adjust the watering schedule, fertilize, and use well-draining soil.
Are purple leaf plum trees messy?
Purple Leaf Plum Care
This tree also benefits from regular feeding and pruning. It can be a messy tree if fruit forms in spring. It’s best to plant this tree away from walkways and other sites in your yard that get a lot of foot traffic, so you are not walking on the fruit.
How much water does a purple leaf plum tree need?
Avoid wetting the trunk. Depending on rain, your new tree may not need much irrigation until the weather is warm and new growth is several inches long. In a moderate summer, your first-year tree is likely to need 5 to 10 gallons a week, applied every 1 to 2 weeks. You want to wet the soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
Can you eat the fruit from a purple leaf plum tree?
Fruit from ornamentals, such as crabapples and purple-leaved plums, are edible. However, the eating quality of some ornamental fruit is rather poor. These trees were selected for their ornamental characteristics rather than the eating quality of their fruit.
Are plums poisonous to dogs?
While plum fruit is technically safe for dogs, the pits and stems are highly toxic and can cause poisoning. Meanwhile, the fruit, while fine as a treat, doesn’t provide significant health benefits and is high in sugar.
Why is my purple plum tree green?
The attractive dark foliage tree performs well in full sun and can tolerate some shade. However, too much shade causes the leaves to turn green. The small to medium-sized purple leaf plum tree has a moderate growth rate.
Can you cut the top off a plum tree?
A mature tree that hasn’t been pruned needs help to become a good fruit producer, but whacking off the top is not the optimal solution. If pruning old plum trees this way doesn’t kill them, it will assuredly produce unattractive and unproductive new growth.
What is the best fertilizer for plum trees?
Best Plum Tree Fertilizer Reviews
- Jobe’s Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer Spike 4-6-6. Best For Potted Trees.
- Down to Earth Organic Citrus Fertilizer Mix 6-3-3. Best Organic Dressing.
- Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Nut Granular Fertilizer 3-5-5.
- Miracle-Gro Citrus, Plum, & Mango Food 6-4-6.
- Miracle-Gro Fruit Food Spikes 15-5-10.
Should plum trees be pruned every year?
Pruning established plum trees
Prune every year in early spring (April), before bud break. Remove any suckers growing from the rootstock. Rub out any buds growing on the lower trunk. Cut out any dead, damaged or diseased wood, and dispose of it as appropriate, removing it from the garden.
Can you prune a purple plum tree?
Prune your purple leaf plum annually to encourage the growth of new flowering wood. The best time to prune is after your purple leaf plum has finished blooming for the season, in late spring to early summer.
Do plum trees require a lot of water?
Young plum trees need to be watered at least once a week to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it requires regular watering, especially in the dry summer months. Deeply water your plum tree once every two to four weeks.