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Texas Gardening

Red Plum Tree Losing Leaves

16 years ago

Our red plum tree is in its 3rd year. If leafed out beautifully in the spring, and bloomed. This week it has dropped maybe a third of its leaves. Nothing appears to be eating it. It got a heavy dose of compost -- and a heck of a lot of water in the last month, as have you all. Is the leaf dropping part of its natural cycle, or is it the odd weather?

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Comments (3)

denisew
16 years ago
It could be all the rain. I have some plants that have some yellowing of the leaves. Hopefully when they dry out, they'll green up again.

Purple-leafed plum trees are also susceptible to cotton root rot which can kill any tree within a couple weeks. There isn't anything you can do about this. The excess moisture could have brought this on. Make sure the root flare is visible - not below the soil surface too.
pjtexgirl
16 years ago
Is it a Krauter Vesuvius? They are really popular in CA where it's dry. I'll bet it's the rain. You can replace it with our native TX Mex Plum if it dies(except cotton root rot I think....). Mine is handling the dry/drown really well. PJ
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My red bud trees have been in two years and this season has been great for growing things. a lot of rain and a lot of heat. One tree looks great but some of the smaller one's leaves are turning yellow and droping off. I don't get around too well but my daughter says that the dropped leaves look as though something has been eating on them. Any advice? Also since we've had so much rain the trees have grown at least a foot or more, do I need to do any trimming or shaping?
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west_texas_peg
16 years ago
My Santa Rosa Plum (2nd yr) just suddenly up and lost all its leaves and now there are 2 suckers from the base. I intended to cut the dead out but discovered we have a butterfly about to hatch that is attached to it. I guess I will see if I get anything good from the suckers.

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