Plum Tree Pruning

November 08, 2024 Post a Comment

Plum tree pruning

When to prune plums. Avoid pruning plums in winter, as it increases the risk of infection by silver leaf disease to which plums and other Prunus species are prone. The best time for pruning is usually spring for young trees and mid-summer for established ones.

How far back do you prune a plum tree?

After three or four years the tree will likely be growing tall. Prune back the trunk 12 – 20 inches at a bud each year so fruit and vegetative buds concentrate in the bottom tree branches. Every year, cut out dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Also remove unproductive shoots and any crossing branches.

Can you cut a plum tree right back?

Always cut just above a bud and sloping away from it. Don't worry if you end up pruning out some developing fruit – you may need to thin the fruit in July, anyway. And don't worry if you don't get your pruning exactly right – plums are more forgiving than apples or pears.

How do you maintain a plum tree?

How to Care for Plum Trees. Be sure to water the young trees heavily every week during the first growing season to help promote growth. Then, water regularly. It's best to water the plant deeply at the soil line, then let the soil dry out (though not completely) and water again.

Is September too late to prune plum trees?

'Fruit trees, known as stone fruit, such as plums and cherries should be pruned after flowering in the spring when the sap is rising and not after September.

Do plum trees need pruning every year?

Pruning established plum trees Prune every year in early spring (April), before bud break. Remove any suckers growing from the rootstock. Rub out any buds growing on the lower trunk. Cut out any dead, damaged or diseased wood, and dispose of it as appropriate, removing it from the garden.

Do plums fruit on new or old wood?

But remember, plums fruit on young wood. Avoid removing branches that are less than three years old unless you have to. Choose a point just above a bud.

What happens if you over prune a plum tree?

An over-pruned plum tree may not produce any fruit at all. When you prune a plum tree, you remove leaves. These leaves provide the tree with energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. If you remove too many leaves, photosynthesis is interrupted and the plant can't make enough energy to produce fruit.

How many years will a plum tree produce fruit?

Plum | 10-25 years*

Can I prune plum tree in summer?

Once plum trees have established (about 3 years old) they can be pruned in summer, from June onwards. Plum trees, along with cherries, peaches and apricots are all plants from the genus Prunus and are best pruned lightly in the summer. Carefully prune out the centre of the canopy to create an open goblet shape.

How do you rejuvenate an old plum tree?

Pruning to renovate an older fruit tree. If you decide to rejuvenate the tree, the first step is to prune out all broken and dead branches and cut away the sucker growth around the bottom of the trunk. Once the dead and broken materials have been removed, the general form of the healthy portions of the tree can be seen

What are common problems with plum trees?

Common problems Plums can be prone to diseases such as bacterial canker, honey fungus, blossom wilt, brown rot, silver leaf, plum rust and pocket plum. Potential pest problems include plum moth, aphids, winter moth caterpillar. The fruit fly - spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is likely to become an increasing problem.

What causes a plum tree not to bear fruit?

Many plum trees are self-incompatible; that is, they require cross-pollination from a different variety of plum tree before they will set fruit. Even the plum varieties considered self fertile tend to produce more fruit when they are cross-pollinated.

Do plum trees need lots of water?

Young plum trees need to be watered at least once a week to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it requires regular watering, especially in the dry summer months. Deeply water your plum tree once every two to four weeks.

Can you prune trees in October?

October sees the start of the dormant season which is the best time to prune lots of deciduous garden trees. You can prune newly planted trees to remove any damaged growth and help balance the shape of the canopy as well as maintain a dominant main leader.

Can I prune fruit trees in October?

It should be done while the tree is dormant, after leaf fall and before it starts growing again (bud burst), which is usually between November and early March. If you're new to fruit pruning or aren't feeling very confident, first take a look at pruning made easy.

What can I prune in September October?

September presents us with a good opportunity to prune evergreen shrubs or hedges such as Abelia, Shrubby Honeysuckle, Privet, or English Yew, as well as fruit bushes. Climbers like Common Jasmine, Common Honeysuckle, Climbing Roses, and Passion Flower can also benefit from September pruning.

Can you cut the top off a plum tree?

A mature tree that hasn't been pruned needs help to become a good fruit producer, but whacking off the top is not the optimal solution. If pruning old plum trees this way doesn't kill them, it will assuredly produce unattractive and unproductive new growth.

Do plums fruit on second year wood?

Pears, plums and cherries European plums bear fruit on lateral spurs from wood two to three years old. Pruning is mainly restricted to occasional thinning of spurs. Reduce laterals to 20cm in length to encourage new spurs.

Should I thin the fruit on my plum tree?

Because fruit trees often set more fruit than they can support and develop to full size, fruit should be thinned in the spring. Leaving too much fruit on a tree can also lead to limb breakage or alternate bearing. Although thinning reduces the number of fruit and total yield, it improves the size and quality of fruit.