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Fertilization is an important part in the growth of a plum tree. You should fertilize the tree twice a year in the spring and late summer--August is a good month. Fertilize a few feet away from the trunk of the tree so that it does not burn the tree. The pH balance of the soil around the tree is important to ensure fruit production. It is essential to periodically recheck the pH balance of the soil to ensure optimal blossom. The proper pH balance is between 4 and 7. Mulch should be applied around 3 feet away from the tree trunk to help prevent weed growth.
Plum trees require plenty of sunlight. It is important to leave at least 5 feet between your plum tree and any other tree or shade so that your plum tree can get the adequate amount of full sunlight.
A flowering plum tree will need the proper amount of water, determined by the weather. A plum tree will require more water on a summer day and less water on a cool day. In extreme heat--above 85 degrees F--or in dry or drought periods, water your plum tree an average of twice a week. - Pruning your plum tree to remove dead limbs will help it to keep its shape. You should not prune in the winter; exposure to pruning during dampness may cause silver leaf disease which can enter through the open cuts of a tree. The best time to begin pruning is in the spring or early summer. Pruning in these seasons will allow the wounds from the cuts to close faster while the young plum tree begins its growth process for the year. The first wave of plums should blossom before you begin to remove dead branches. Prune just above the bud and on the top so that the tree remains close to the ground and accessible for picking the plums. Use thinning cuts to open up the tree and alleviate some of the pressure on the branches, which will prevent the limbs from breaking when the fruit begins to bloom.
- Plum trees are susceptible to many diseases and pests such as black knot, which is a serious disease that can potentially kill the tree's branches. Plum pox virus attacks fruit-bearing plum trees and deforms the fruit. Brown rot is a fungus which is usually seen on the fruit and twigs when wet. Insect prevention, pruning, watering and fertilizing your plum tree are ways to prevent disease.
