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Advice on tree proximity

Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
in Plants
Hi there,

I've just discovered what I think is a Mirabelle plum tree at the back of our garden but its been planted very close to a rather large conifer, see attached images. One shows the thinner trunk of the plum on the left, probably only a foot apart. My impression is the plum is struggling and is trying to distance itself from the confer with its trunk bending away from it but do you think it needs to be moved? The fence also prevents is from growing well. I don't think we really have space elsewhere so I don't really want to pull it up to not replant. I don't know how someone decided this location was a good one!

Thanks for the advice


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Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It may be that no one planted it. It could have seeded itself. It is so in the wrong place that I would cut it down.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I dont think its a mirabelle, they don't have red leaves.  However, given a choice , I'd take out the conifer.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Not a Mirabelle, more likely to be a cherry plum. I would prefer it to the conifer as well but it looks to be very close to the fence.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I agree, I think it's a cherry plum, probably a seedling deposited via a pigeon!

    They can get quite largish trees if left, mine's now about 20ft high at a guess.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    Hi all, thanks for the comments. A cherry plum apparently has green leaves? Why are these red? I also prefer it to the conifer but that is quite eatablished and hides the fence well. I suppose i could remove the conifer and shift the cherry plum into its place so would be further from the fence? Hadn't really thought to have potentially a 6-8m tree there.


  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    There IS a purple leaved cherry plum tree - I'm looking at a couple across the road in my neighbour's garden.  Its official name is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra', if you want to look it up on the Internet and decide if you want to keep it.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    I think I have spotted a large one of these in a neighbour's garden, perhaps that is the parent of this one.. in bloom they look very similar to a cherry blossom. Certainly a lot prettier than a conifer.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I have a red leaved cherry plum and the spring blossom is very pretty and dainty, much like that you see on Japanese prints. It sometimes manages a few plums but the birds always get in there before me!
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    edited July 2023
    If there's one fairly nearby it could easily be a sucker - we had a sucker from the main tree that had got to that size when we moved in. I didn't realise it was sucker until I tried to remove it. 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    My next door neighbour has a cherry plum with red leaves so that's why I suggested it. Her tree is pretty big.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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