Worried about plum tree after first summer

[SMW]

Hi all,

Hope you can help me here. Last winter a planted a few fruit trees in my garden. Most have done well over the summer with about ½ to a foot of growth. I’m guessing this would be the norm? However, I have a plum tree which was about 6 foot tall which I first bought it and followed online instructions and pruned the branches down to just under a foot from the main trunk. I done this in mid June and used wound paint. Within 2 weeks of this, the tree shot outside shoots around 3 inches long. Since then there has been no growth at all. I also removed the flowers in the spring, of which there were only a couple.

Do you think I pruned to hard and the tree has stunted? Or is it just taking its time to get established? I also haven’t been the best at removing the weeds at the base, as you can see.

Is this all normal for the tree? Should I persevere or cut my loss and replant another this winter?

Thanks

S

[BUFFS]

Feed and weed, simple but essential with newly planted trees...

[nickdub]

probably just suffering a bit of shock from the radical chopping - I'd leave it to grow on untouched next year - clearing some weeds from round the roots wouldn't hurt. Leaves look healthy enough, so I expect it will be fine.

[SMW]

Thanks for the advice folks. Im goign to clear the base of all the trees, might even mulch with bark and teh compost greens up so fast. would a bit of Bood fish and bone be ok or will this impact on it wanting to fruit for a few years? the soil is very nutrient poor as there was a hedgerow where the tree is for several years

[fishpond]

Weed now and remove the grass, then put down a 2" mulch out past the shoot tips.
Feed in earlySpring and possibly mulch again out past the shoot tips.

The mulch is feeding the soil and the tree long term, the feed is giving the tree a kick.
Mulch every year.
Do not cover the graft.
Keep the soil underneath and the mulch free of anything else growing----weeds/grass etc.
Expect to see a good bit of growth 2019.
it looks like a good strong tree so it should do well given some TLC and time.

[Dalrimple]

can I ask what to use for mulch please ? atb Dal

[fishpond]

can I ask what to use for mulch please ? atb Dal

Manure/home made compost.