How to Care for a Purple Plum Tree
The purple plum tree offers a great way to add a less-common color to your landscape. Its leaves are almost metallic purple. It is known for its beautiful pink to white flowers and the fruit it bears. The tree can reach up to 20 feet in both width and height. This is a relatively easy tree to care for. It requires only weekly watering and annual feeding and pruning. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Establish a regular watering schedule for the first year, so the tree will develop a strong root system. Saplings need more water than mature trees. You can use whichever watering system you prefer: a garden hose, drip hose, bubbler or sprinkler. Exactly how much water the tree needs depends on your climate, soil type and tree size. See Resources for a detailed watering guide.
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Mulch the base of the tree with 2 to 3 inches of straw, bark, shredded leaves or other mulch material to help retain moisture and prevent runoff.
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Use an all-purpose fertilizer in the early spring, before the tree shows new growth. Measure the trunk's diameter 4 feet up from the ground. The general rule is to use a half pound of fertilizer for each half inch of trunk diameter. Apply the fertilizer starting about 2 feet out from the trunk, because this is where the feeder roots begin growing.
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Prune the tree in the winter. Plum trees can be shaped as you desire, such as into a pyramid, bush or into an espalier (flat against a fence or wall).
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