How Often Should I Water My Purple Plum Tree?

Proper watering helps plum trees flower and leaf out abundantly.

Purple plum trees produce deep purple foliage. The abundance of lavender blossoms in spring and the rich purple leaves in summer make this ornamental plum an attractive addition to the home landscape. While the fruit of the purple plum is edible, the small size and limited quantity of this fruit make this tree more an ornamental than a fruiting landscape tree. Plums require regular irrigation to remain healthy and to leaf out well.

Planting Site and Moisture

Locations with rich but well-drained soil retain the correct amount of moisture for healthy tree and fruit development. Sandy soils drain too quickly, which necessitates more frequent watering and a greater chance of drought damage to the plum tree. Clay soils compact, causing moisture pools in the soil and leading to root rot. An area with loam soils rich in organic matter provides the best location. In poor soils, planting in a raised bed helps alleviate most moisture concerns.

New Tree Irrigation

Purple plums require regular watering during the first year after planting to establish a healthy root system. A thorough watering at planting penetrates to the entire root ball of the tree. Continuing to water the trees twice weekly, moistening the entire root zone, prevents the soil from drying out too much. A 4-inch-high mound of soil constructed around the tree, about two feet out from the trunk, creates a watering ring. Filling the area inside the ring with water at each irrigation and allowing it to soak slowly into the soil moistens the root zone adequately.

Established Tree Irrigation

Once established, the plum tree doesn't require frequent irrigation. Mature plums require approximately 8 gallons of water every week during the summer, especially in dry periods when rainfall is minimal. More frequent watering is necessary if the soil is drying out quickly due to drought conditions.

Mulching

Mulches prevent moisture from evaporating from the soil too quickly. A layer of mulch over the root zone of the plum lowers the amount of supplemental irrigation needed for a healthy tree. Pine straw, wood chips or bark nuggets provide an attractive and effective mulch material. Spreading the mulch to a 2-inch depth within the watering ring established at planting covers most of the root zone. Mulches can cause moisture rot on the plum tree trunk, so it's necessary to leave a space between the trunk and the mulch to prevent problems.

References

• University of Florida Extension; Growing Plum Trees in Florida; E.P. Miller, et al.; April 2008
• University of Rhode Island Extension; Plums; Richard C. Funt; 2000