Removing and planting another tree

Manure

Hi , i have just removed a 40yr old dead plum tree from my garden.
have been told that I shouldn’t plant another tree (WHATEVER IT IS ) in its place .
The hole is 2mtr x 2mtr , any suggestions , was thinking of a photina ?. Thanks Pat.

JennyJ

I don't see why you shouldn't plant another tree if you enrich the soil with some well-rotted manure (or garden compost if you have a compost bin going). Maybe best to avoid other prunus species though, in case the plum was diseased.

Photinia is nice if the conditions suit it, but they can look awful if they aren't happy. There seem to have been lots of threads about sick-looking photinia on here recently, which suggests to me they're not very tolerant of less-than-ideal soil, water, climate etc.

delski

I have 2 types of photinia - one of them (I think) is red robin and suffers badly from leaf spot. It looked glorious May 2019 but seems to hve gone downhill since then. I'm going to give it a rejuvenation prune this spring and see if I can get the new growth to be, and stay, healthy.

The other one, I have no idea which type it is, looks lovely all year round, no problems at all.

KeenOnGreen

I'm not a fan of Photinia/Red Robin, it's used too much in commercial and municipal planting, en masse.  As far as I know it doesn't offer much for insects or birds.  Maybe better to plant something more nature friendly, like a Hawthorn, or another tree with blossom/fruit.  Amelanchier's would be my first choice if I had more space.

Manure

Thank you so much for your great advice , looking at Amelamchiets.
thank you 

Manure

Thanks everyone for your different advice . Pat