A purple leaf plum tree is a deciduous tree that is most often grown for its ornamental value. It generally blooms in early spring before leaves emerge. The flowers are white with a tinge of pink or purple. Fruits ripen in mid-summer and are eaten fresh or made into jams. Purple leaf plum trees tolerate a wide range of soil types and conditions but prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, a purple leaf plum tree needs about 40 gallons of water per week.
How often should I water my purple plum tree?
It’s important to give your tree enough water to soak the ground all around the roots, but you don’t want to water too much. Once every 10 days or two weeks is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots is waterlogged, drowning roots.
A tree in its first year will need 5 to 10 gallons of water a week, applied every 1 to 2 weeks. The goal is to wet the soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches. As the tree grows, the watering should be done in the outer portion of the canopy.
How do you take care of a purple leaf plum tree
The Purpleleaf Plum is a beautiful tree that should be grown in full sun in order to bring out the richest leaf color. It is tolerant of moderate heat and drought, but often succumbs to borers on poor, compacted soil. Be sure to plant it in well-drained, acid soil to give it the best chance of success.
It is important to water young plum trees regularly to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it will require less frequent watering, but will still need regular watering during dry summer months. To deeply water your plum tree, do so once every two to four weeks.
Can you overwater plum trees?
If you are growing fruit trees, it is important to make sure that the soil is not perpetually wet. Over-watering can be just as harmful as lack of watering. As mentioned in our fruit tree planting guide, applying a thick mulch around the base of the tree is one of the most useful things you can do.
When a tree is getting too much water, the leaves may wilt or turn yellow. There may also be moss, fungus, or mushrooms growing at the base of the tree. The stems and leaves may also have waterlogged blisters.
How many gallons of water does a plum tree need?
Using the proper amount of water is essential for the health of your plum tree. Too little water can stress the tree and make it more susceptible to disease. Too much water can cause the roots to rot. The root line is the line of demarcation between the tree’s trunk and the roots. For juvenile trees, approximately 2 gallons of water is sufficient. Adult plum trees require approximately 8 gallons of water at every watering.
If you live in an area with a wet climate, it’s important to be aware that stone fruit trees can be highly sensitive to the wet conditions and can develop many problems with rot or fungal diseases. Trees which have shallow roots, such as dwarf fruit trees, can also be greatly affected by damp soils. If you’re considering planting any type of fruit tree in a wet climate, it’s important to do your research ahead of time to make sure that the tree will be able to thrive in those conditions.
Why is my purple plum tree dying
Ornamental plums in Southern California have been killed by a bacterium (Xylella fastidiosa) that grows inside a plant’s water-conducting tissue and plugs it up. The bacteria are spread from infected trees to healthy ones by an insect, the glassy winged sharpshooter. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure.
The purpleleaf plum is a relatively short-lived tree, lasting only around 20 years. It requires a bit of maintenance, such as pruning and fertilizing, to keep it healthy and looking its best.
What is the best fertilizer for purple leaf plum tree?
A purple leaf plum tree is a type of plum tree that has purple leaves. If the growth of a purple leaf plum tree is slow, it is recommended to fertilize it with 1/2 cup of 12-6-6 fertilizer in spring. In general, purple leaf plum trees do not need additional fertilizer if they are planted in fertilized lawns.
The Purple Leaf Plum tree is a beautiful, unique tree that is perfect for any garden. The leaves of the tree range in color from a deep red to purple, and they are serrated and ovate. Generally, the leaves of the Purple Leaf Plum tree grow to be between 15 and three inches in length. The tree loses all of its leaves sometime between August and the end of September.
What helps plum trees grow
When planting plum trees, it is important to choose a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Plums do not do well in clay-heavy soils or in locations where their roots will be constantly wet.
As summer approaches and water becomes a more precious resource, it’s important to take measures to conserve it where possible. One way to do this is by thinning out fruit on trees. Nectarines, peaches and citrus are most dependent on adequate water, so removing some of the fruit can help the trees survive a dry year. This will also help to promote growth of larger, healthier fruit.
How do you keep a plum tree healthy?
Plums tree need full sun and moist but well-drained soil to grow. Prune in summer and mulch in autumn with home-made compost or well-rotted animal manure. Harvest the plums when ripe and juicy.
If you are looking to plant a plum tree in a desert climate, full sun exposure is key. Even though the leaves may get scorched by the end of summer, the tree will still do well. If you can find an area for the tree to get some relief from the late afternoon sun, it will help, but it is not necessary.
What causes curling leaves on plum trees
Leaf curl in plums is caused by an infestation of the leaf curl plum aphid, Brachycaudus helichrysi. This insect sucks tree fluids from plum leaves, causing them to curl.
During the cool months from October to November and then through winter and into May, the fruit tree will need less water. Often, a fruit tree will not need any irrigation water at all from December through March because of the cool temperatures and sufficient rainfall.
How do you tell if a tree has too much or too little water
Your soil should be cool and moist if you want your tree to be as precise as possible. If it’s sopping wet, you’re overwatering. If your soil isn’t drenched or sandy, roll into a ball.
If you have a waterlogged or flooded tree, it is important to keep an eye on it and look for any continuing signs of distress. Many symptoms may not appear until months later, especially if we have a prolonged hot, dry period.
Should I water my trees everyday
It is important to water newly planted trees once a day for the first couple of weeks after planting, and then once a week after that during the growing season. Remember to check the soil to ensure you are not over watering. Once the roots begin to extend beyond the root ball, you can water on a normal schedule.
This is the easiest watering method that I have found. You simply drill three 3/16-inch holes in a 5-gallon bucket, fill the bucket with water, and place it near but not right up against the trunk. The bucket provides a slow, deep soaking in the root zone, which is best for the tree.
How many gallons of water does a tree use per day
Trees play an important role in the water cycle by absorbing water from the ground and releasing it into the atmosphere through their leaves. They can absorb large amounts of water, up to 150 gallons per day, but most of this water is lost through evaporation and transpiration. Only a small amount, less than 5%, is used for the tree’s growth. Trees rely on the water in the soil to replace the water lost during the daytime hours, and they “rehydrate” during the nighttime hours.
A medium sized semi-dwarf fruit tree uses about 16 gallons of water per day on a hot summer day on the coast of California without any fog influence. That same tree in the Sacramento or San Joaquin Valley would be about 19 gallons per day.
Warp Up
The average purple leaf plum tree will need approximately 40 gallons of water per week during the summer months. This can be increased to 60 gallons per week if the tree is planted in a hot, dry location.
Based on the amount of water that other types of plum trees need, it is likely that a purple leaf plum tree needs a similar amount of water.
