This is a Satsuma plum that is in its third year in the ground. It has done very well. This winter I had to raise the tree because it was planted to far below grade. In doing this some of the roots were severed. Is this the reason for the leaf discoloration? Is there anything I can do via nutrients or fertilizing?
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Is the soil reasonably well drained, or is the tree sitting in mud?
I would probably strip the flowers in order to save the tree, buds were developed BEFORE the root were disturbed, so it may have not enough energy now to feed them all. And tree is usually first feeding flowers and fruit when it is stressed.
Yes Alan it is reasonably well drained.
Here is a picture of some of the fruit that has set. They look healthy. I was hoping that wasn’t going to be the answer.
Usually the tree will drop the fruit after transplant quite early if it’s stressed, and I don’t see chlorosis. Plums tend to transplant well.
Could a lot of wood been blended with dirt during replanting? Maybe it is a nitrogen problem from bacteria sucking it out of the soil to digest the wood. .
Weather hasn’t been unusually wet and cool by any chance?
Yes it is entirely possible that some wood made its way into the soil during replanting. And yes we have had an extremely wet winter this year in Southern California. Weather has been warm with a few hot days. Tomorrow is going to be in the low 80’s and today was low 70’s. It seems to be setting fruit well. Just give it some more time?
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And maybe give it a shot of quick release N. Just enough to test if that is the issue.
Some of my plum leaves are pale yellow when they initially emerge, then green up within a few weeks. They look normal to me.
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Me too.