Back in 2015, our plum tree got clobbered by a falling 180 foot tall Douglas fir; practically split it in half from the top down. It survived and since has been left alone. Until the other day when we heard a crack and swish. Not an unfamiliar sound around here, but this was distinctive. Our poor plum tree split in half, partly due to the constant overnight drizzle that weighed it down. The split came at the trunk and produced a clean and complete break. A good 15 feet separated and almost reached the road.

I eliminated the small branches with the snipper snappers and tried to save the leaves for compost. Then took the Sawzall and cut the stock with larger dimensions. Dragged everything to the top of the drive and that weekend sliced and diced until everything fit in the organic recycle and two garbage bags. I save some large branches and the trunk portions for firewood or future projects.

Initially I thought this tree was an “Italian plum.” It is a cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh, according to my Plantnet app. I was wondering why I kept seeing these red apples roll down the drive.

Treekote used to seal the wound.