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Plum tree dead?

LeifUKLeifUK Posts: 573
in Fruit & veg

2 years ago I planted two 2 year old bush plums, Avalon and Opal. One is fine. The other, the more vigorous tree, has no leaves. All or most of the buds have gone brown, and crumbly, and there are two buds with leaves sprouting from the base, just above ground level. I presume it must be sprouting from the root stock, although it looks as if the graft is lower, but I am not sure. Does anyone know what happened?

There were lots of flowers in April, and a late frost in the second week of May. Around that time I watered lawn weedkiller onto the lawn. Both trees are in a long 1m wide bed, with lawn either side. My medlars and quince look healthy as does the other plum. Could this have been shock from a late frost?

Also of 5 bare root Polka raspberries planted in late winter, 3 are sprouting, two are not. Everything else is doing well!

Posts

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    When you planted the plums were they bare root of in pots? If in pots were they pot bound? It might have been late frost, scrape some of the bark away if it's green underneath then it might be OK.Don't know about weed killer was it a still day when you sprayed?if not it could have been blown over but the rest would be afected.Raspberries are like that some don't take.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Can you post a photo Leif? It doesn't sound good. A late frost might destroy blossom or new leaves but I wouldn't expect it to kill a tree. It does sound as if the rootstock is shooting.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    Could you have planted it to deep? The root stock should be well above soil level
  • OldfoolOldfool Posts: 9

    What did it do last year? If it was O.K; have you pruned it? 

    seems to me the weedkiller was not the culprit if the other plum is O.K. If you prune when the plum is dormant a fungal infection (Silverleaf) could infect the plant but is unlikely to kill it straight off. Another possibility is graft failure. Are the new buds below the graft scar? If so that could be the problem.

  • LeifUKLeifUK Posts: 573

    Thanks all. It was a bare root plant, it was pruned last summer, no signs of silverleaf. Last year it was fine, only one plum, but lots of growth. I suspect the buds are below the graft. Can a graft really fail after four years? 

    Yes I think the weedkiller is not the cause, unless this variety is very sensitive. 

  • OldfoolOldfool Posts: 9

    I, like you, would be surprised at graft failure after 4 years, but from what you say, can't think of any other reason. Are you a R.H.S. Member? Perhaps their help team could express an opinion.

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