skip to main content

Help...my plum tree is dying! (with pictures)

15 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm from Southern California, USA. It's always sunny here, without much rain. Temperature was around 40F in the winter and 80F in the summer. But I always give the tree enough water. My plum tree is old, about 15+ years old. It produced so many plums last year. But after the last winter, I found that one of the major branches stopped producing new leaves. And I found the traces of termites. I understand that termites don't eat from live trees, so there were some other reasons that killed my branch. Now I'm worried about the whole tree will die soon for the same unknown reason. May be insects? Here are some pictures of the tree:

http://www.geocities.com/chinese_pilot/tree.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/chinese_pilot/tree1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/chinese_pilot/tree2.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/chinese_pilot/tree3.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/chinese_pilot/tree4.jpg

Any idea what caused it? And the treatments? Thanks everyone!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
fruit trees dont live forever.. like other trees might ...

your was improperly planted under the power line easement.. and it looks like they have hacked it back for years ...

it is not uncommon for fruit trees.. to try to reproduce like mad.. before they give up the ghost ...

i would NOT invest too much in this tree ...

i would invest in a new one ... and plant it in a better location if your yard is big enough ... so that in a few years.. when this one just isnt going to make it ... your replacement will be up and running ....

there is nothing you can do about the gigantic scars ... and the termites are winning.. it is time to emotionally separate from it ...

i know its not what you want to hear ... but sometimes it helps to plant the new one.. to get past the separation anxiety ..

good luck

ken
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
Welcome to PG&E utility hacking and butchering pruning.

The first foto is all I needed to see. Ken is correct and don't waste too much time or energy on this tree. This type of utility pruning is common and much-lamented in Gullyvornia.

Sorry for this situation. Until major changes happen at PG&E and other major utilities, this will continue and your complaining about their practices won't change anything, this started in the early '90s.

Dan
Related Discussions
Please help my Meyer Lemon Tree is Dying
Q
Comments (2)
Can it be tap water by any chance? I used to live on the lake and used to take water from it to water my trees, but I moved and have to use tap water. I can feel chlorine smell and taste in that water.
...See More
Plum tree dying - newbie needs your input!
Q
Comments (3)
Too much water? Dig down about 4"-6" just before it gets watered and see what you have...dry or wet. Expanding/splitting bark is often too much water. Can't tell from the photo if it is planted at the right depth. The crown of the tree trunk should be slightly higher than the surrounding territory. Agree that it needs more air and that the pavers are too close. It is probably a lost cause, but if you check the roots you will see what is going on. Too wet or too dry. Too wet and they will all be rotten. Too dry and they will be shriveled. Then you can change your schedule accordingly. If it dies, you can plant another one and know better how to care for it in your specific location. We all go thru these (expensive sometimes) learning experiences, but you will be a better gardener for it. Wishing you success. -Babka
...See More
Plum tree dying - newbie needs your input
Q
Comments (3)
I see a couple of things that leap out at me. First, your bark is flaking off and that may mean it was sun burned. Interior latex paint mixed half and half with water and applied to the bark protects it from the sun. It could be another disease dealing with the bark also but my first thought was sun burn. Second, pull those pavers off the ground. While they do keep down weeds, they also stop water from trickling down and the feeder roots from coming to the surface. I would suggest a 5" thick layer of mulch in place of the pavers. Mulch keeps most weed seeds from germinating, keeps moisture from evaporating, keeps the sun from heating up the root zone, and will feed the tree in a few years as it starts to break down. If you live in a moist area, pull the mulch several inches away from the trunk as trunks that are kept moist tend to rot. Lastly, you should probably only need to water that tree once a week. If you have been watering every day, the ground didn't get a chance to dry out and caused the roots to rot.
...See More
HELP! My calamondin tree is dying!
Q
Comments (17)
The soil your tree is in looks heavy and compacted. Roots do not get enough oxygen. Watering at a fixed shedule instead of only watering when the first one to two inch are dry is the next big problem. Also the post sits in a dish without raiser and I do not see how the water can drain freely. Since this plant was already re pottet and potting again would definitely kill it now, here is what I would do. Get a drill and make additional holes at the bottom sides of the pot. With a knitting needle aerate the soil (stick in the top and do gentle little swirl around to loosen the soil). Finally put something in the plate to raise the container up. Place in a warm and light spot. Careful with water as not too wet. Hope for the best. Maybe others here have different ideas.
...See More

Related Stories

FRUIT TREES How to Grow Your Own Juicy Plums

By Marianne Lipanovich

Easier than other stone fruits and with a variety of colors to choose from, plums are a versatile garden addition

EDIBLE GARDENS Grow Plum Hybrids for Your Favorite Fruit Flavors

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plums are cozying up with apricots, peaches and even cherries — here’s how to grow these hybrids for the best aspects of each

Ideabook 911: Help Me Finish My Foyer

By Becky Harris

ORGANIZING 4 Questions to Help You Organize Your Favorite Photos

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Organize your keeper photos with a system that's just right for you, whether it's in the cloud or you can hold it in your hand

ORGANIZING Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Consider these 6 points your personal pare-down assistant, making organizing your photo collection easier

MOST POPULAR 7 Ways Cats Help You Decorate

By Molly Brandenburg

Furry felines add to our decor in so many ways. These just scratch the surface

DECLUTTERING Downsizing Help: How to Edit Your Belongings

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Learn what to take and what to toss if you're moving to a smaller home

BATHROOM WORKBOOK Standard Fixture Dimensions and Measurements for a Primary Bath

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Create a luxe bathroom that functions well with these key measurements and layout tips

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Saturated Colors Help a 1920s Fixer-Upper Flourish

By Madison Modern Home

Bright paint and cheerful patterns give this Spanish-style Los Angeles home a thriving new personality

LIFE Decluttering — How to Get the Help You Need

By Alison Hodgson

Don't worry if you can't shed stuff and organize alone; help is at your disposal

Sponsored

CHC & Family Developments

4 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, Ohio

More Discussions

Dappled willow tree damaged by deer

3

Our oak tree seems to be slowly dying, what can we do?

9

Tree trimming suggestions

2

Sassafras Foliar Peculiarity

15

Does this crabapple require a professional trimmer?

1