Help with Plum Tree

SuZ

Hi Everyone ... I'm new to the forum and need your assistance.

I have 3 purple leaf plums that are 5 years old. Two are doing great and one is showing signs of a problem. The first sign was last fall when all of the leaves fell off before the other two trees. This spring the very same tree did not flower until after the other two started to get their leaves. It has started to leaf now but they are very small and the tree is not as dense as it was last year.

What can we do to help our tree ? Pic attached.

Attached Files

CIMG5382.zip (491.5 KB, 20 views)

Victor Lindsay

Root problems, plus the middle and right one look like they where planted too deep. You have too much mulch, too close to the trunks. This may appear to be small stuff, but planting too deep and mulch around the trunk are the most common cause of death with in the first five years.

You need to see the root flare at the base of the tree.

SuZ

Thanks for the info ... one question tho ... what do you mean by "You need to see the root flare at the base of the tree"?

Victor Lindsay

Below are some great sites that will explain root flare and more.

Planting hole - Planting - Landscape plants - Edward F. Gilman - UF/IFAS
Planting - Landscape plants - Edward F. Gilman - UF/IFAS