Plum tree

[Milambar]

Hello, Im a lurker here, but decided to register as I finally have a question..

I recently bought a Czar Plum tree as it was on special offer (half price) from Parkers, whom I live next door to, more or less. I thought it migut occupy a nice sunny spot, against my south facing wall, next to the front door.

At the moment, it is only 4.5 foot tall. All my friends are telling me to move it, fast, before it gets established, as its a tree and trees + doors do not go well.

Are they correct? Will it grow too big to be managable? Bear in mind it is less than 2 foot from the doorway.

[chris]

Do you know what rootstock the tree is grafted onto ? If you're going to move it, I'd wait until the dormant season personally. November/Dec -> Feb/March.

[FB.]

As Chris said: how well it grows depends on the rootstock, the local climate and on how good your soil.
The amount of feeding and watering will also have a big effect on its growth, as will any other plants which compete with its roots.

Most fruit "trees" are actually no more vigorous than the types of hedging plants (e.g. hazels, hawthorns) which people often use to border their property. It's just that while people trim their hedges regularly to keep them neat, they never seem to bother trimming their fruit bushes, which, as a result, eventually, turn into small trees, and after a hundred years - if they survive the neglect - they may become medium size trees.

But with the modern tendency for fruit "trees" to be on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks (the old-style vigorous "orchard" rootstocks which might grow into properp trees are only available mail-order from specialist nurseries), so most fruit "trees" nowadays rarely become more than a medium sized bush unless the soil is especially good. Since a plant is mostly water, areas with low rainfall tend to produce small trees, while areas with higher rainfall and warm climate tend to produce larger trees. Cold climate tends to slow the growth of most trees.

Finally, good pruning and training can make most fruit "trees" into almost anything you want; fans, espaliers, columns, arches and anything which your imagination can create.

[Milambar]

Sorry for the slow reply, I actually took a walk over to Parkers to find out the rootstock.

Apparently its something called "Pixie".

[FB.]

Sorry for the slow reply, I actually took a walk over to Parkers to find out the rootstock.

Apparently its something called "Pixie".

....and your location, climate and soil is.........?

Pixy is the most dwarfing plum rootstock. It only usually reaches its full potential of 8-10ft when grown in the most perfect conditions of fertile, moist (but not saturated) soil with no plants competing in the root zone.
Where growing conditions are less than perfect, it may not grow at all; it'd die in my soil.

Planted in the drier areas close to a house (drier due to no rainfall hitting the ground under the house, and to the house blocking rain from one side), and the often poor soil around houses which is full of alkaline (toxic) cement and builders rubble, accompanied by fierce competition from grass or other plants; it's quite possible that it'll just sit there and not do anything.

Your location and soil type will be the deciding factors. But my suspicion is that it will not be too difficult to control this "tree" as long as if it does grow reasonably well, you don't neglect pruning to guide its growth and control its size, as you would any other bush/hedge which you'd plant in your garden.

[orangepippin]

Notwithstanding FB's comments about the Pixy rootstock and the difficult soil conditions close to a house, Czar plum trees are amongst the most reliable and personally I think it will probably grow quite happily ... and probably start intruding on your door. I would therefore assume the worst, and either actively train it to grow away from the door (which might look very nice), or consider relocating it in November when it is dormant.