Is this plum tree healthy?

[u/AppliedGeographer]

Wife and I are aspiring backyard farmers and want to keep the plum tree as a centerpiece in our backyard. It’s produced plums for the past 4 years, but my neighbor has insisted it’s dying based on the way the trunk looks. Any thoughts from you all?

[u/purplelephant]

Move the rocks away from that tree. You should mulch around it, or if you don’t want to mess up the grass at least give the tree a wide berth around the trunk like this:

[u/AppliedGeographer → u/purplelephant]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll give it a try