Plum Tree: Everything You Should Know Before Planting

A plum tree, also known as Prunus domestica, is a beautiful, blossoming tree that produces a plump and juicy fruit commonly known as a plum. Although Nature & Garden states that no one is certain exactly where plum trees originated, we can prove plums date all the way back to the Bronze Age. Egyptians placed prunes, or dried plums, in the tombs under their pyramids, and plums also played a popular role in France during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Today, plums continue to grow as a hybrid breed of both European and Asian plum trees.

According to Love To Know, most plum trees grow between 10 and 15 feet tall. Some, however, have been recording to make it up to 20 feet tall. Although the main purpose of plum trees is to harvest their delicious fruit, they can also make beautiful ornamental trees. The oval-shaped, serrated leaves range between 2 and 4 inches and boast a wide range of colors, like green and purple in the spring and yellow, red, orange, and purple in the fall. In the spring, before their fruit emerges, their branches also ignite with tiny white flowers. If you're interested in adding a beautiful and delicious plum tree to your garden, this guide will provide you with everything you need to successfully grow and care for this tree.

Plum trees are a beginner-friendly way to add a delicious edible touch to your garden at home. To plant your own plum tree, MasterClass recommends planting your seeds between the late winter and early spring months straight into your garden for the best results. This allows the seeds to naturally overcome their dormancy without facing the further shock of transplanting, which occurs when a plant is transferred from a potted environment to a permanent position in your yard.

When planting directly into your garden, however, the spot you choose is very important for the health of the tree and the fruit it produces. MasterClass states that the position you choose should be a full sun position because the more sun your tree receives, the juicier the fruit will be. An ample amount of space should also be available in the given position to both allow the tree space to grow with the addition of extra space in case another tree needs to be added. Another tree will need to be added if your current tree is not self-pollinating. In this case, the two trees can pollinate each other, allowing them both to bear fruit.

After your plum tree begins to grow, it's important you know how to properly care for the plant so it stays strong and produces fruits for as long as it can. Luckily, according to MasterClass, plum trees do not require much maintenance to stay healthy and strong.

After first planting your plum tree, it must receive plenty of water as the roots develop. With one heavy watering a week for the first year or two, you can ensure your roots grow strong, healthy, and deep into the ground. To keep pests and diseases away from your plum tree, it is also recommended to give your tree one good pruning every year. When it comes to pruning, never prune your trees during the fall or winter to avoid unwanted winter damage. To further assist your tree's growing and blooming process, MasterClass also recommends using fertilizer once a year in the early spring. When using fertilizer, however, ensure it is an all-purpose fertilizer or a form of aging compost, and never apply any type of fertilizer after your tree's fruit begins to grow.

According to Modern Farmer, the average lifespan of a plum tree is about 10 to 25 years. Dwarf varieties will live for the lower end of this range, while you will likely get more life out of full-size varieties. This is a lower range than common fruit trees like pear and apple, but proper care can give your plum tree the best chance at a longer lifespan.

If you notice your plum tree failing to thrive and dying off, you can attempt to revive it (via Plantophiles). Spray your tree to remove any damaging insects or fungi, and inspect the leaves to make sure your tree is getting plenty of water. If they are wilting, water the tree deeply and more frequently. Take care to remove damaged or dying branches that can spread issues throughout the rest of the tree. If you are still struggling to revive your dying tree, you can call a professional horticulturalist to assess its condition and create a care plan.

As you already know, plum trees produce fruits called plums, which are commonly eaten, in various ways, by people all over the world. Minneopa Orchards confirms that dogs can also indulge in the fruit as a tasty and nutritious treat. On the other hand, cats are warned to stay away from plums due to the risk of cyanide poisoning and the unhealthy drop in blood pressure (per Minneopa Orchards).

Other than the fruit itself, you also need to pay special attention when it comes to the leaves, stems, and seeds of your plum tree, as well. ASPCA mentions that these elements of a plum tree can cause harm to common house pets, especially when they are in the process of wilting due to their high levels of cyanide, which can harm your pet. You can recognize cyanide poisoning in your pet if they are having difficulty breathing or panting, their pupils are dilated, and they seem in overall shock.

Although plum trees are known for being very easy to grow and maintain, Epic Gardening states that they are still susceptible to a variety of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases that may sweep through your garden. One bacterial disease, in particular, is known as Bacterial Canker, which grows on the stems of your tree and affects the growth of leaves on that stem. Bacterial diseases like this, however, are very easy to prevent by simply keeping your tree healthy and in the right condition. Pruning is the best-recommended treatment to get rid of a bacterial disease that has already started to grow.

Fungal diseases, like Armillaria Root Rot and Black Knot, tend to emerge during the cold and rainy seasons and can affect a variety of different parts of the tree. Although some fungal diseases can be manually removed by pruning, fungal diseases are most commonly treated with fungicides. Finally, viral diseases like the plum pox virus can also affect plum trees. The plum pox virus, in particular, mainly only affects the fruit of the tree by causing grey rings on the surface of the fruit. Although, like most diseases, a viral disease can easily be prevented by keeping your tree healthy and in the right condition, there is no cure once your tree attracts the plum pox virus. Getting rid of the disease involves completely removing the tree.

Thinning your plums and reducing the number of fruit on your tree may seem counterproductive. However, it's one of the best strategies for cultivating better long-term yields. As Oregon State points out, thinning can boost the size of future plums and prevent too big of a crop that will reduce the crop size the following year. Plus, too many heavy-hanging fruits can weigh down fragile branches and cause breakage.

When thinning the fruit on your plum tree, you will want to do it within 30 days of spring's final blooms. The trees also self-thin and drop some of their fruit on their own at the beginning of June. It's a good idea to leave extra fruit to account for this and thin more later if too many remains. Keep an eye out for drooping limbs as the fruit matures and grows heavier. If they droop, reduce the number of plums or use supports to prevent breakage.