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Fruit & Orchards Trees garden

How do I save my plum tree?

2 months ago

I got two fruiting plum trees from a nursery that sells larger trees. I planted them as recommended and they have been on drip irrigation. One is thriving and the other started wilting and yellowing. It has been a wet year here in the PNW and getting the tree to dry out has been impossible because it seems to be over watered. The nursery said to water daily rain or shine. The clay in the burlap is damp still despite not watering for nearly 3 weeks. The tree continues to deteriorate and 2/3 of the leaves are extremely wilted now and 1/3 look great. Should I pull it out of the ground and remove some of the clay? Is there anything I can do to save the tree? Are the branches with the wilting leaves dead and need to be removed?

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Comments (8)

cecily 7A
2 months ago
Since you purchased larger trees from a nursery, are they covered by a warranty?
HU-988972158
Original Author
2 months ago
@cecily 7A unfortunately we didn't pay $400 to have them plant them, so there is no warranty.
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HU-988972158
Original Author
2 months ago
HU-988972158
Original Author
2 months ago
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 months ago
Don't try to remove the clay - you will damage the roots. But stop the daily watering!! It is rarely necessary for trees planted even in the heat and dryness of a PNW midsummer. And we are nowhere close to experiencing that!! Water only when the soil area surrounding the rootball feels dry at depth.
HU-988972158
Original Author
2 months ago
HU-988972158
Original Author
2 months ago
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 months ago
take a hand trowel.. and dig 3 three to 6 inch holes around the tree .. AND FIND OUT ABOUT WATER AT DEPTH .... then water accordingly ..

you say the clay in the burlap is moist.. is it still wrapped in the burlap??

whats all the black plastic behind.. and is it somehow building and retaining heat.. ... and somehow affecting the tree??? .. cant tell how far away in pix...

in my high draining sand.. for me to water this size transplant tree.. i would have to run the irrigation 6 to 8 hours.. sto get enough water 8 to 12 inches down.. where the roots are..

you need to find out how water moves in your soil.. then learn how to water it properly by hand.. AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT WITH DRIP IRRIGATION ...

do a perk test to find out about drainage ... which tells you how water moves thru the soil ...

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=garden+perc+test.&t=ffab&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

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