Extreme drought causes fruit and leaves to shed. Any remaining fruit may sunburn due to the loss of leaves. Fertilizing Most Oriental persimmon trees do well with a minimum fertilization program. Excess nitrogen fertilizer causes fruit to drop. If leaves are not dark green and growth is less than 10-12 inches a year, fertilizer is needed.
Soil testing is the best way to determine the amount and kind of fertilizer needed.
This amount of fertilizer should be applied evenly under the tree canopy in late winter or very early spring. Pruning Oriental persimmons require no special pruning practices. Prune as you would an ornamental tree. Prune to develop a strong framework of branches. As the tree begins to bear, the heavy fruit may break limbs.