Help on plum-less tree.No new growth & leaves drupe.?

Question

These trees were 5-6 ft. when planted. I've tried giving them more water.Do I need to fertilize? I think I did when I planted therm.They were purchased from a nursery and they have not given me any help. The leaves also show no sign of bugs but do look like leaves that have been hit with hail even through they have not.

Help

Answer 1

I live in Western Montana and have plum trees.

they have done pretty well.  You must water often to get them established.  The first year is all about root growth.  Don't worry about the branches or leaves increasing.  There won't be fruit for maybe three years.  It takes a while.  The best thing you can do to get information is to call your County Extension Agent's office. You can take or mail in a sample of the leaves to see what the holes are from.  

I doubt that you need to fertilize.  Just be on schedule with watering.  Use the hose on the tree and let it soak very well once or twice a week.  Using an overhead sprinkler is not adequate for watering a tree, especially a fruit tree.

Even my well established trees will have drooping leaves when the temperature is around ninety or above.  As long as there is moisture for the roots to pick up at night, the tree will be fine.

Answer 2

If you planted this year, I wouldn't fuss about a lack of new top growth this season.  Don't fertilize until next year.  You don't want to encourage a lot of new top growth before the roots are established enough to support the extra top-side growth.  A root stimulator in the water would be all I would do this year.

The best way to water is to take an open-ended hose (no attachment on the end), and lay it on the root ball.  Turn it on to a trickle, with a flow about the size of a pen, and let it go for 15-20 minutes.  Do this about every 5 days then it's hot, every 10-14 days when it's cool.  If you have a LOT of clay in your soil, or otherwise have drainage issues, you might not need to water quite that often.  After the first freeze, you're done watering.  Next year - water if there is a long drought, but otherwise, the special attention on the watering it just the first year.

The description of your leaves that they've been "hit with hail"...do you mean they have a lot of holes?  That sounds very much like the work of Japanese beetles.  They love plum trees, along with roses.  They come along, chow down, and leave.  It's possible they were there and gone and you didn't notice until after them moved on. That damage won't kill the tree, just makes it look like heck.