Plum tree half dead?

[julianm]

Hello!

Only about half of the branches of my plum tree ("Czar") seem to show signs of life. I planted it last year and it produced lots of little tasty fruit, but this spring only a few of the branches have produced leaves and flowers so far. Shall I cut the off the rest now?

I have taken a picture, but can't post an attachment, maybe because I'm new...

[veggiechicken]

Hi Julian and welcome to the Forum.
I can't help with your plum tree, sorry, but someone will be along to help soon!

Once you've made a few more posts, and we know you're a "real person" you will be able to post images. It doesn't take long. .

[nickdub]

Hello!

Only about half of the branches of my plum tree ("Czar") seem to show signs of life. I planted it last year and it produced lots of little tasty fruit, but this spring only a few of the branches have produced leaves and flowers so far. Shall I cut the off the rest now?

I have taken a picture, but can't post an attachment, maybe because I'm new...

It does sound as though part of your tree has died - I'd leave it another week beofre cutting the dead bits off just to be sure. When you do cut it back try to get right back to living wood ie white centre brown bark with green in between - that is to say try not to leave any dead wood still attached to the tree.

[Jungle Jane]

Wait till June before pruning a plum tree it could let in silver leaf disease cutting now. They like a warmer temp for healing. Ive just fed my plum & pear with a bit of blood fish & bone as a treat

[fishpond]

I prune mine when the sap is rising in Spring and the weather is dry, I also seal the pruning cuts.

[Jungle Jane]

Ive never needed to seal a pruning cut

[julianm]

Thank you all, most helpful. I will wait a little bit then, and if I spot a pruning seal somewhere in the meantime, I'll grab one.

What could've caused half of the branches to die?

[bario1]

I was told it's fine to prune anything under 2" thick, even in winter, and that pruning sealants/paints etc are a waste of time... controversial!!

[nickdub]

Hopefully you'll be able to post on a few more threads and then you can upload photos on this problem - with a photo there's a reasonable chance we might be able to guess what caused the issue.

[devonuk]

Can you trace all the dead branches back to one branching point, or are they randomly distributed?

Have you tried scratching the bark on a dead and a living branch and seeing whether you find a green layer under the bark of the dead branch like you do with the live one?