Common Problems About The Flowering Plum Tree And How You Can Avoid Them
With beautiful buds of pink and light orange blossoming into radiant white when the flower finally opens up, the flowering plum tree is one of America’s most beloved garden plants. Some homeowners have become so attached to this tree that they insist on taking it once they move.
But this tree type is susceptible to a slew of possible problems. Let’s take a look at them and determine the best way/s by which they can be resolved. You’ll discover that some of them aren’t even problems at all.
Common Problem No. 1: Help! My Flowering Plum Tree Isn’t Bearing Any Fruits!
Patience is often required, especially when transplanting the sapling yourself. Plum trees start bearing fruits when they are 4 years old in the wild and 5 to 6 years old in controlled environments.
If your tree is within the proper age range but has yet to produce some fruits, chances are you’re living in windy climates, and the trees are having problems in cross-pollination. Also, you may be growing flowering plums of the same variety, which will not allow them to bear fruits since, as we have mentioned, cross-pollination is the key for the same. You need to plant different varieties of flowering plums if you wish them to produce some fruits.
Common Problem No. 2: Help! My Flowering Plum Tree Is Bald! It’s Leaves Keep Falling Off.
Flowering plums are highly deciduous trees. Bald branches are more often observed than lush ones. This is normal in a humid environment where the leaves are more stressed.
Nonetheless, plum trees’ unorthodox shape maintains their beauty. Even when bald, their branches point upwards, giving the trees an uplifting stance.
Common Problem No. 3: Help! The Leaves Of My Flowering Plum Tree Are Turning Yellow At A Very Rapid Rate.
Yellowing leaves are typical when they are starting to wither. If your plum tree’s leaves are turning yellow out of season and at such a frequent and rapid rate, then chances are, your tree is suffering from root rot. Root rot is caused by applying too much water, making the soil upon which the roots have taken home a breeding ground for various undesirable pests.
Spraying plant-safe insecticides will provide a temporary solution. But the best method you can employ is to reduce the amount of water you’re using on your plum tree. Determining the right amount of water will depend on many factors: tree size, amount of sunlight received, and quality of soil, which will dictate water retention.