How to Care for an Ornamental Plum Tree

Ornamental plum trees are among the hardiest of all flowering trees, and are unusually forgiving in terms of soil conditions and even the possibility of drought. At the same time, ornamental plum trees flourish under more acidic soils, and can produce much more fruit and blossoms when pH levels are managed correctly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• PH test kit
• Small trowel or hand-held cultivator
• Soil-rendering products
• Sphagnum peat moss
• Bypass pruning shears

1. Test the pH levels of the soil around the trunk of your ornamental plum tree to determine whether the conditions are optimal for blossom and fruit production. Flowering plums prefer a soil with a pH balance of between 4 and 7 in order to thrive. Use a pH test kit, along with acidic fertilizers and additives, to maintain the proper pH balance throughout the season.
2. Care for your ornamental plum tree by pruning the branches in early to late spring, as opposed to in the fall. Wait for the initial wave of plum blossoms to pass before you remove dead or unproductive branches, which will help to stimulate additional branch growth through the warmer months, when the fruit appears. By pruning in the fall, you may eliminate too many buds, resulting in a less-than-impressive display of blossoms the next spring.
3. Use soil-rendering products to break up excessive clay in the soil around your ornamental plum tree. Work these products, which usually take the form of dry powders, gently into the soil around the root system, taking care not to disrupt the more delicate tendrils at the ends. Use a small trowel or hand cultivator to dislodge compacted dirt, and to expose deposits of stagnant water underneath the root system.
4. Prune the branches of larger trees adjacent to your ornamental plum tree to maximize the amount of sunlight it receives. Shade from other trees or plants will affect the production of beautiful blossoms and fruit.
5. Water periodically through hot and dry months when you care for your ornamental plum tree. While these trees may be fairly resistant to drought, mature specimens may need an extra drink of water once or twice a week when rainfall is non-existent, or if the temperatures rise above 85 degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plant your ornamental plum tree in clay soil, you may want to purchase a soil-rendering product that can keep the dirt around the tree loose, and free of stagnant water.

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