I have three plum trees planted several feet apart. Two days ago I noticed that one of the trees had completely wilted and appears to be dying. It did this in three days time. The other two trees appear to be fine. Any ideas of what might have done this? Is there anything I can do to save it? Thanks.
Here is another photo
Your tree looks newly planted...? Sometimes, new trees or shrubs will go into shock when they are transplanted, could be a result of jarring or breaking the tap root, but I think it's more of an occasional bad luck sort of thing. It doesn't always happen right away; we lost a little willow tree that looked fine for its first month. Other than making sure it has sufficient water, I'm not sure there's anything you can do. I had a little dogwood tree get really shocky on me earlier this summer when I put it in, and now it has recovered a little and is putting out new growth. Most places will replace trees lost to transplant shock.
The good news is that transplant shock is not contagious.... I don't think this is some dread disease or insect infestation that will spread to your other trees.
Hi.
Thanks for your reply.
Well, that is the curious thing. All three trees were planted last year, and all three made it through a very dry spring, summer and fall. All three plum trees were doing just fine---putting on new growth, getting taller this year---and all were being well watered each week. And then this one just dries up. Bought and planted it in April of 2005, so it was doing fine for a year and about two months. I checked the soil beneath the tree, and it was damp, so it did not appear to have been under-watered. Nor did it appear to have been over-watered. I have always read that if nothing above-ground gives conclusive proof of what killed a plant that the answer will be found in the roots, but at this point I would rather not pull it up, as I want to see if perhaps the tree can be saved. Maybe it will leaf out again?
Prunus species have very thin bark that can transmit chemicals. I notice a newly sprayed circle around the tree. Maybe the bark was doused?
Hi, Pete. Good guess. There is a very, very slim chance that the tree could have gotten some weed killer on it, but nearly impossible. That is what the dead grass is---it's where I sprayed with weed killer so as to be able to put new mulch down around the tree. I spoke with my county agent, who told me the tree could have died from root rot due to over-watering. I have been giving my young fruit trees much more water than the required 1-inch a week. I am thankful no others have died. Anyway, I have been VERY careful not to get any weed killer on the trees or to get the ground wet with weed killer under the trees. So I don't think the tree succumbed because of weed killer.
The good thing is that the tree was so young. If I buy a replacement next year, I won't lose much time at all.
CarolJeanie,
I see that you are up the highway from my daughter in Brookston. I set out a North Star cherry tree at her place and it died back to the ground after 2 years. Cherries are related to plums and don't like it too wet. There was a depression around this tree and it probably got too wet in the winter and spring.
The nursery said that if it leafed out the second year that the guarantee was then expired.
Indy,
Was the cherry tree in one of those bags where you plant the whole bag in the ground? I have found it impossible to keep the root ball together on such an arrangement. As soon as I take the tree out of the pot, the ball falls apart, meaning an extra large shock to the root system. No wonder such trees do not make it. I find it hard to believe they can keep selling those, and I wonder why they don't just sell the cherry trees potted up like other fruit trees. I have a bing cherry tree that was in a bag that I planted this spring, and it is just barely hanging on. It has leafed out a bit, but I doubt it will make it through the winter. I will probably have to return it for a refund come next spring.
Ours was a bare root that started fine.
