How to Take Care of Plum Trees

Overview

Plum trees provide shade, vibrant color and delicious and healthy fruit. When caring for a plum tree, it is important to understand how to correctly water, prune and fertilize the tree. This is mostly important when the tree is young, as more mature trees don't require a lot of attention. The amount of care you need to give a plum tree depends on the climate or region you live in.

Step 1

Apply a layer of compost around the trunk of the plum tree in early spring, making sure the compost doesn't touch the trunk's base.

Step 2

Water the plum tree each day when it is a young sapling. Once the spring and summer season begin and the tree is producing plums, it will need to be watered one to two times per day. In the winter, water a couple times a week.

Step 3

Prune the branches of the plum tree in mid-June to early July to prevent silver leaf disease and to thin out the branches producing fruit. Cut away broken, diseased or dead branches. In crowded or heavy areas, cut away every second branch. Repeat this again in early August.

Step 4

Remove suckers from the roots of the tree regularly with pruning scissors. These suckers take much-needed energy and nutrients from the healthy parts of the tree.