My plum tree is dying - urgent help needed!

[anglowelsh2000]

I have a plum tree of about 8 years old which has always been very healthy and produced lots of plums.
Over the past month or so it looks like it is on deaths door!
The bark on the trunk and branches has cracks in and the bark is coming away. There is moss growing on the tree. The leaves have wilted and discoloured and the fruits are tiny and turning black.
Please see the photos.
Is there anything I can do to save this tree?
The tree has been fed and there is a mulch around the base of the trunk like I have always done.
Any help would be much apriciated.
Thanks.

[Guest]

Is there any sign of healthy life on it anywhere, if not I think you already know the answer

[anglowelsh2000]

Is there any sign of healthy life on it anywhere, if not I think you already know the answer

unfortunately not Just want to make sure before I condem it....
Also I want to find out what is wrong with it and what I can do in the future to prevent it happening again.
Will it be OK to plant another plum in the same place once I remove this one? (if it cant be saved!!)

[Guest]

I am rubbish at diseases but to have moss growing on it would suggest a water issue (too much). Hopefully some of the fruity grapes will be a long shortly.

In regards to planting another plum in the same space you will need to remove as much soil as pos. as there will be a build up of pests and disease that young plants might not cope with. Or you could plant an apple or pear there (some thing that is not stone fruit related)

Do you have a pic of the whole tree? there may be something people can notice that you never thought off.

[anglowelsh2000]

I am rubbish at diseases but to have moss growing on it would suggest a water issue (too much). Hopefully some of the fruity grapes will be a long shortly.

In regards to planting another plum in the same space you will need to remove as much soil as pos. as there will be a build up of pests and disease that young plants might not cope with. Or you could plant an apple or pear there (some thing that is not stone fruit related)

Do you have a pic of the whole tree? there may be something people can notice that you never thought off.

Thanks for your reply. Here is a couple more photos of the tree.

[fishpond]

Looks to me like lack of water.
Reasons being:-
Feeding roots should be out approx as far as canopy, there is an abundance of grass there taking moisture and nutrients away from the tree.
It appears to be on a slope, what little water would be available is being taken by the grass & also there appears to be some rather large trees in the vicinity which will not be helping your plum tree.
The cracks and fissures in the tree suggest lack of water and occasionally too much, which has opened up the tree to major infection.
Why does the top of a branch leader appear to be snapped off, was it cleaned and sealed--more infection.
I will look closer at the pics later on but the tree looks dead--which is no surprise.
As Norfolkgrey suggests plant an apple, as another Plum in there will not survive (replant disease), I don't think a Pear would survive either as they need more exacting requirements in the way they are grown but I would suggest you might want to plan the planting a little better, paying particular attention to the rootstock, watering, feeding, and the area to be left grass and weed free underneath.
As its been there 8 years, I think it has done remarkably well.
I do not know whereabouts you are but we have had no rain in the last month, which ties in with lack of water for your tree.

[Kirk]

When have you pruned it, at which time of year ?

[Guest]

Just on a sidetrack and not a great deal of help but did you mean moss or lichen? I only ask as lichen will not harm the plant and it tends to grow on parts of the tree that have stopped or are slow growing. If it is lichen and it is present on most of the tree it would indicate that it has not been happy/thriving for some time.

Yes don't you just hate diseases and hunt for the clues

Edit: ignore me - just blew up a pic and it looks mossy

[FB.]

How long ago was it planted? Whereabouts in the UK is the tree? Which variety? Which rootstock?

Most likely died (or nearly dead) due to canker - especially if it is Victoria and especially if it was pruned during winter. It is also possible that it died due to lack of water but that's normally a problem with newly-planted trees.

However, established but drought-stressed trees usually (but not always) turn leaves yellow and drop them like autumn, but disease-killed trees often (but not always) have brown crispy leaves still attached, although newly-planted drought-stressed trees can look the same.

[anglowelsh2000]

Thanks for all the useful information posted so far.
To answer a few questions-
The tree is planted in level ground around 7 metres from the bottom of as slope.
We live in south Wales around 15 miles north of Swansea.
We have not had a significantd drought period - hot sunshine and heavy rain.
The tree was given to me in a very large pot aged 3 years and was planted in its position 5 years ago.
As it was given to me, I have no details of species or root stock.
The top growing section of the tree was damaged last summer and I pruned it off in September.
It has always been pruned in late summer.
It has always produced masses of fruit.

Hopefully that will help.

Thank again.

[boundtothesoil]

Most likely died (or nearly dead) due to canker - especially if it is Victoria.

I agree with FB -looks like canker. I lost a four year old Warwickshire Drooper plum tree like this about a month ago. It seems to be one of the unequal challenges associated with growing plums, at least in West Wales.

[fishpond]

I put all the problems that tree has got to cultural problems, my money is on lack of water, it may even be too much water(sat in a sump).
The advice from me would be remove the tree and if you are going to replant anything, dig down 2.5 to 3 foot and see what the soil is like or is it rock, also check the PH.
P.S When you remove the tree, could you take some pics of the roots?
Also remove the main branch and take an end on photograph of both the remaining stump and the branch end?
Many Thanks

[FB.]

Thanks for all the useful information posted so far.
To answer a few questions-
The tree is planted in level ground around 7 metres from the bottom of as slope.
We live in south Wales around 15 miles north of Swansea.
We have not had a significantd drought period - hot sunshine and heavy rain.
The tree was given to me in a very large pot aged 3 years and was planted in its position 5 years ago.
As it was given to me, I have no details of species or root stock.
The top growing section of the tree was damaged last summer and I pruned it off in September.
It has always been pruned in late summer.
It has always produced masses of fruit.

Hopefully that will help.

Thank again.

With that info, I'd say very likely killed by a disease such as canker or silverleaf.