Plum trees not getting leaves

[KAJENSEN]

I received some plum trees for Mother’s Day. My son told me they were dormant and gave my some root start and I planted them with plenty of root space and water them often and still no leaves.

[nickdub]

Generally pays to be an optimist when gardening, but I reckon they're dead - only recourse would be for your son to apply for a refund.

[It never rains..it pours]

Kajensen, is the wood green under the bark if you scrape a little and the the buds green inside ?
Nickdub, I have a less severe case, plum has decided not to leaf on its lowest branchs, only the middle and top ones, rather annoying as trying to keep it a sensible height. Is this normal ?

[Jungle Jane]

Where did the tree come from? It should’ve had leaves by now,phone the company & explain what’s happened,good luck!

[nickdub]

Kajensen, is the wood green under the bark if you scrape a little and the the buds green inside ?
Nickdub, I have a less severe case, plum has decided not to leaf on its lowest branchs, only the middle and top ones, rather annoying as trying to keep it a sensible height. Is this normal ?

I'm guessing your problem plum is a new one and probably it is conserving energy after being transplanted. You can try using string to bend the ends of the upper branches down a bit more towards the horizontal to see if this encourages growth to break in the lower ones. Apart form that I'd leave the tree for now except for making sure it has sufficient water at the roots, and revisit the problem next year, when hopefully normal service will be resumed.

[keat63]

See it as a blessing.
Pesky plum trees send runners up everywhere.

I cut 2 down.
I couldnt cope with the mess in autumn or the runners in the summer.

[It never rains..it pours]

I'm guessing your problem plum is a new one and probably it is conserving energy after being transplanted. You can try using string to bend the ends of the upper branches down a bit more towards the horizontal to see if this encourages growth to break in the lower ones. Apart form that I'd leave the tree for now except for making sure it has sufficient water at the roots, and revisit the problem next year, when hopefully normal service will be resumed.

Thanks nickdub, it was planted in may 17 from a pot. I had festooned most of he branches already to horizontal and the mid / top branches are solid leaves and putting on vertical shoots, seems it just wants to go for vertical growth vs me that wants to keep it 15 ft odd

[nickdub]

Thanks nickdub, it was planted in may 17 from a pot. I had festooned most of he branches already to horizontal and the mid / top branches are solid leaves and putting on vertical shoots, seems it just wants to go for vertical growth vs me that wants to keep it 15 ft odd

Yes most trees will show considerable dominance for the apex shoots - BTW best not to bring branches down too close to the horizontal immediately for new trees - always leave the branch ends where they are growing pointing a little up-wards. You can also try taking a nick of bark out from below where the top shoots emerge from the trunk, to see if that will slow them down enough.

[It never rains..it pours]

Thanks for advice nickdub. Festooning may have made them die more, will be less agressive as you suggest, but think low ones are too low any way (2ft odd off ground) long term, so they were the better ones to die if any had too. New issue noticed is bark splitiing vertically in places, trunk is growing fast by looks of it. Are they ok to leave or do they need treatment or cut proptection applied ? They are not leaking like a canker

[nickdub]

Thanks for advice nickdub. Festooning may have made them die more, will be less agressive as you suggest, but think low ones are too low any way (2ft odd off ground) long term, so they were the better ones to die if any had too. New issue noticed is bark splitiing vertically in places, trunk is growing fast by looks of it. Are they ok to leave or do they need treatment or cut proptection applied ? They are not leaking like a canker

Quite common on plums to see the bark split a bit - not much risk of disease this time of year, particularly in the dry weather - usually the tree will produce some gum which will plug the split naturally. If this hasn't happened by the Autumn and you are worried, then there'd be no harm in brushing some bitumen in to crack to help seal it over.

BTW you can get the branches down to the horizontal eventually when training - just don't do it all at once, and especially not with the growing tips.

[It never rains..it pours]

Quite common on plums to see the bark split a bit - not much risk of disease this time of year, particularly in the dry weather - usually the tree will produce some gum which will plug the split naturally. If this hasn't happened by the Autumn and you are worried, then there'd be no harm in brushing some bitumen in to crack to help seal it over.

BTW you can get the branches down to the horizontal eventually when training - just don't do it all at once, and especially not with the growing tips.

Thank you for the information

[nickdub]

You're very welcome - happy gardening ;-)