Sick Purple Leaf Plum - Ask Extension
We have a Purple Leaf Plum (est 25 ft tall) in our front yard. Every year it has produced plums but this year it did not. Also many of the leaves have...
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Sick Purple Leaf Plum #880071
Asked August 03, 2024, 7:38 PM EDT
We have a Purple Leaf Plum (est 25 ft tall) in our front yard. Every year it has produced plums but this year it did not. Also many of the leaves have holes in them and several lower limbs died. What is wrong and what should I do?
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Mark,
thank you for using Ask Extension.
Your first question about fruiting as there could be several reasons:
1) what was the weather like when the tree was blooming? Was there heavy rain/hail? Did you see/hear pollinator activity? heavy rain and hail can reduce what is pollinated to produce fruit.
2) has anyone removed other plum trees in your area? Most plums require a different variety for pollination. If your neighbors have removed other plum trees that may contribute to the issues.
3) Do you regularly prune the tree? Plums have 'fruiting spurs' on the branches and those spurs are really only fruitful for 3-4 years. Most stone fruit trees need regular pruning to encourage new growth so you always have fruit spurs of a variety of ages.
The holes and notches on the leaves could be caused by a number of pests including earwigs, cutworms
Plum and prune-Earwig | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
Plum and prune-Cutworm (climbing) | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
it may also be a fungus
Prune and Plum (Prunus spp.)-Leaf Spots | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
Treatments for home use are marked with an H or in a section specifically for home use.
thank you for using Ask Extension.
Your first question about fruiting as there could be several reasons:
1) what was the weather like when the tree was blooming? Was there heavy rain/hail? Did you see/hear pollinator activity? heavy rain and hail can reduce what is pollinated to produce fruit.
2) has anyone removed other plum trees in your area? Most plums require a different variety for pollination. If your neighbors have removed other plum trees that may contribute to the issues.
3) Do you regularly prune the tree? Plums have 'fruiting spurs' on the branches and those spurs are really only fruitful for 3-4 years. Most stone fruit trees need regular pruning to encourage new growth so you always have fruit spurs of a variety of ages.
The holes and notches on the leaves could be caused by a number of pests including earwigs, cutworms
Plum and prune-Earwig | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
Plum and prune-Cutworm (climbing) | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
it may also be a fungus
Prune and Plum (Prunus spp.)-Leaf Spots | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
Treatments for home use are marked with an H or in a section specifically for home use.
