Plum trees need deep watering once every 2 weeks in their early growth stages. Established trees only need monthly watering. Give your trees water using a soaker hose. Let the water run for 5 to 10 minutes each time. Always water your trees all the way past the dripline. Plum trees prefer moist, well-draining soil. You can easily overwater your trees. So, be sure to stick to a strict watering schedule. Remember to account for the changing weather conditions, too.
How Much Water Do Plum Trees Need Per Day?
Plum trees do not need water daily. Water your young trees once every 14 days. Give your trees water monthly once they’re established. Let your soaker hose run 5 to 10 minutes each time to fully saturate the roots.
- Do not water your plum trees daily.
- Water your young trees about once every 14 days.
- Decrease watering to once a month for well-established trees.
- Let your soaker hose run for up to 10 minutes each time.
- Increase watering frequency when drought conditions occur.
Increase watering frequency when temperatures rise to summer highs or during periods of drought. Plum trees prefer moist soil. But it cannot get waterlogged. Otherwise, the roots will fail to pick up enough oxygen and nutrients to support growth. Remember, plum trees have precise sun exposure needs, so you must make sure the soil does not dry out due to hot temperatures and direct sunlight.
How Do You Water Plum Trees?
Water your plum trees deeply once every 2 weeks through the first year. Reduce watering to once per month after that. Use a soaker hose to evenly apply water all around your trees. Let the hose run for up to 10 minutes at a time.
- Water your young plum trees every 2 weeks.
- Once your plum tree is over a year old, reduce watering to once per month.
- Use a soaker hose to evenly add water all the way around each tree.
- Let the hose run for up to 10 minutes to deeply soak the roots.
- Always water out past the drip line to nourish the critical root zone.
Water out past the dripline for the best results. The dripline is the area underneath the canopy of branches. The critical root zone lies just beneath the edges of the tree canopy. The roots in that area need extra care to ensure your plum trees stay healthy. Once your plums are properly watered and thriving, check out our guide to harvesting plums at the right time.
Do Plum Trees Like Wet or Dry Soil?
Plum trees do not prefer overly wet or dry soil. They thrive in soil kept evenly moist throughout the year. PLum tree roots cannot take up enough nutrients and oxygen when the soil is overly saturated with water. On the other hand, dry soil dries out the cells of the tree and starves it of nutrients. Both too little and too much water can kill your plum trees.
- Plum trees grow best in moist, well-draining soil.
- Plum roots cannot absorb enough nutrients if the soil gets too dry or wet.
- The right soil matters when it comes to maintaining the right moisture levels.
- Amend the soil as needed to create a well-draining mix for your plum trees.
The right soil makes all the difference in keeping your tree’s roots adequately moist. The soil should drain within a day or two after heavy rainfall. Soil that stays moist for far longer than that could benefit from the addition of sand, perlite, or vermiculite. In addition, the soil should not get hard and compacted as it dries out. Add peat moss to reduce soil compaction and encourage healthy root growth.
Can You Overwater Plum Trees?
Plum trees can suffer from overwatering. They do not like to sit in overly saturated soil. The soil where your plum tree is planted needs to drain well to allow the roots to thrive. Roots that get too wet cannot properly absorb oxygen. The excess water also makes it difficult for the roots to absorb enough nutrients.
- You can easily overwater your plum trees.
- Plums grow poorly in wet soil.
- Too much water prevents roots from absorbing nutrients and oxygen.
- Avoid overwatering your trees by adjusting your approach to the weather conditions.
You can prevent overwatering your trees by staying in tune with the weather. Try to keep the soil reasonably moist year-round. Skip the watering session if you get a lot of rain that keeps your soil moist. Adding irrigation on top of natural rainfall is a surefire way to overwater your plum trees.
How Do You Know If Plum Trees Need Water?
Plum trees only show signs they need water when they are overly dehydrated. At that point, their leaves will wilt and start to turn brown. You do not want to wait until that happens. Otherwise, it might be difficult to impossible to help your trees recover.
- Plum trees only display signs of needing water once they get severely dehydrated.
- Dehydrated trees will have wilting leaves that turn brown on the edges.
- Do not wait until your trees get dehydrated to give them water.
- Keep your trees on a strict watering schedule to avoid dehydration.
- Adjust how much you water to account for the changing weather conditions.
Avoid severe dehydration by keeping your trees on a regular watering schedule. Start by watering your young trees once every 14 days. Then, move to monthly watering sessions after the first year of your plum tree’s life. Adjust your watering approach to account for the weather conditions. Give your plum trees more water when temperatures rise above 80°F (26°C). Hot weather can dry out the soil quickly. In extreme heat, you may need to water 2–4 times per month. Once the soil feels dry to the touch, your plum tree needs water.
Does a Plum Tree Require Lots of Water?
Plum trees have moderate watering needs. In order to properly water plums, follow these tips:
- Plum trees need water once every 2 weeks for the first year after planting.
- After the first year, reduce the watering frequency to once per month.
- Use a soaker hose to thoroughly irrigate the root zone for 10 minutes at each watering session.
- Aim to keep the soil in your plum tree’s root zone moist but not wet.
- If the soil is soggy or marshy, your plum tree is overwatered.
- If the soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to water your plum tree.
- IN temperatures above 80°F (26°C), increase watering frequency to maintain moist soil.
Plum trees will reward you with sweet, juicy fruit every season when you meet their watering needs. So, take the time to get it right, and then enjoy fantastic harvests every year.
