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Dear Kim, here's the response to your question:

Brittle stems are dead stems. Why did it die? A tree fails to establish for a number of possible reasons. Possibly if you dig it, you’ll find an answer, but it is not always evident. Maybe you’ll see rotted roots, girdling roots, maybe twine left tied in the roots. Perhaps it was planted too deep, or over or under watered last summer?
This, EC 1438, is the OSU app/publication about choosing, planting and caring for new trees. Compare the recommendations to what you did and that might help you determine or make a good guess about your plum.
You know, as a last look at your photo, is there a deep trunk injury part way up? Is the tree alive below that? You’ll still want a new tree rather than growing a new top on this one, but knowing what happened is still a way to avoid a repeat.

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Jacki D., Master Gardener Diagnostician Volunteer (Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties) Oregon State University Extension Service Volunteer Metro Master Gardeners (http://metromastergardeners.org/)

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