Dormant? fan trained Victoria plum tree

[pok98]

Hi, I have a fan trained Victoria plum tree which isn't doing very well. Shortly after I planted it out 3 small flowers bloomed but died off quickly. It has no leaves at all and no flowers have bloomed since. My assumption is that the frost got to it but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any ideas or advice as to what I should do with it or should I just leave it and see what happens?

[veggiechicken]

Hi and welcome to the Grapevine.
Are you sure your tree is still alive?
Scratch the bark with your finger nail and see if you can spot green under the bark.

[fishpond]

I suspect your tree is now a dead parrot.
Do as veggiechicken suggests and gently scrape the bark.
If, by chance you do find green (which I doubt), seal the wound you have made.
The loss of blossom could well be due to frost, which is expected some years, if we enjoy a mild winter/spring with a late frost.
The lack of leaves is very worrying and I suspect not frost related, possibly poor drainage depending on how well the planting site was prepared.
Hope this helps

[pok98]

Thanks for your replies.
Yes its still alive, I'd already checked there is green under the bark. It's in a raised bed which I believe has good drainage so I'm a bit stumped....!

[fishpond]

Thanks for your replies.
Yes its still alive, I'd already checked there is green under the bark. It's in a raised bed which I believe has good drainage so I'm a bit stumped....!

If it is still alive, leave it, but it is very late.
Are you sure it is a plum tree and Victoria?
Could you say where you purchased it?

[pok98]

Definelty a victoria plum. I bought it through my local independent nursery but the tree is grown and provided by 'tree for life'. I bought it at the same time as my apple and pear trees which are both doing brilliantly

[boundtothesoil]

'tree of Life' are meant to be good suppliers, but there's always the chance that your young tree has, unfortunately, picked up a serious disease like canker - look at the trunk near the graft union for symptoms. With plums like Victoria the blossom often emerges (and can flower then drop their petals) before the leaf buds burst and new season's leaves start to expand. I would wait another month before giving up on the appearance of new leaves. It's unlikely that you will see new flowers this year, although there is a slight possibility that the tree may have experienced unusual environmental conditions prior to you buying it -this could have temporarily altered the normal pattern/sequence of seasonal development, but it's pretty unlikely.

[orangepippin]

Did you buy the tree this winter? Was it supplied in a container or did you plant it in a container? Mild winters and container-grown plum trees seem to be problematic. Unfortunately if you don't have active growth by now then the tree has had it.