Advice needed on dwarf plum trees in containers

Posts

• Joyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933

  May 2023

  I would guess the weather has got to them. Excessive cold, wet, drought and much too small pots. "If" you trimmed or pruned them during the usual pruning period it might be silver leaf disease

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• tuffnelljohn Posts: 284

  May 2023

  Hmm, perhaps these should go in the ground. I thought - because theyre dwarf - theyd be ok in pots. 
  
  Are there any plants/shrubs/trees (preferably evergreen) that are more appropriate in those pots?
  
  

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• Lyn Posts: 23,190

  May 2023

  I’d cut the losses on those,  if they haven’t got any green on by now,  I think they’re probably dead. 

  Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 
  
  

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• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  May 2023

  The pots are very narrow for shrubs. I think that will make the constricted root ball more exposed to frost damage than a wider pot.  If you want to use the same ones, maybe try a tall upright grass like Calamagrostis "Karl Foerster"? The old stems stand all winter then you cut them back in early spring for the new growth to come through, so not quite evergreen.
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

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• tuffnelljohn Posts: 284

  May 2023

  Lyn said:

  I’d cut the losses on those,  if they haven’t got any green on by now,  I think they’re probably dead. 

  Oh no really!? 
  Oh well, you live n learn I suppose.
  
  

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• tuffnelljohn Posts: 284

  May 2023

  JennyJ said:

  The pots are very narrow for shrubs. I think that will make the constricted root ball more exposed to frost damage than a wider pot.  If you want to use the same ones, maybe try a tall upright grass like Calamagrostis "Karl Foerster"? The old stems stand all winter then you cut them back in early spring for the new growth to come through, so not quite evergreen.
  

  Thats an interesting idea. Ill go to garden centre later today.
  
  I have 2 more identical pots, both with cammellia in which looks like theyre doing ok.

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• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  May 2023

  Camellias are tough as long as they get enough moisture - I had one in a not-huge but typically-proportioned container for years, but it didn't really take off until I planted it in the ground.
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

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• tuffnelljohn Posts: 284

  May 2023

  These are the camellias:
  
  
  I will go and have a look at some tall grasses.
  
  I did find these shrubs that are looking for a home, so thats another option(?). Its knocked my confidence having those plums die.  I thought the pots would be ample. (Im always surprised the garden centres have such big plants in such small containers!)
  
  
  

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• tuffnelljohn Posts: 284

  May 2023

  @Lyn - Before I commit to ditching the plum trees... do you think they are definitely dead rather than dormant?
  
  If I scrape a little bark off theres a bit of green and theres certainly moisture. Sap is also bleeding from the tree. 
  
  Or should I ditch them and re-purpose the containers. (Ive ear-marked some spare bean plants I have!)
  
  
  

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• Jenny_Aster Posts: 945

  May 2023

  Wondering if they're managing to get enough water in those pots? Have you got anywhere where you can plant them in the ground?
  
  If not then perhaps you'll be able to water them 2 or 3 times a day. Perhaps leave one of them under a dripping tap, or put a container under the pot and keep topping it up with water. 
  
  It's a shame to give up on them if they're not dead.

  Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 
  
  Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.

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