Trim all side shoots to six leaves from their parent branch to encourage fruiting next year. Once your tree is established, it’s important to prune only branches that have not produced fruit in that year. How to Prune a Plum Tree When Established Trim the three or four branches immediately below to 10 inches (25 cm.). Prune three year old trees in a similar fashion by trimming the main stem to 18 inches (46 cm.) above a bud. Prune these branches to 10 inches (25 cm.), on an angle, immediately above a healthy bud.
Below this cut, there should be at least three branches. When you prune in the second year, cut the main stem back to 18 inches (46 cm.) above a bud. Be sure that there are at least three buds below. Once you have made the cut, you can rub off the bud directly below the cut. The central leader branch should be cut back to 2 feet (61 cm.) above soil level on new trees. Always use sterilized and sharp pruning shears when you trim. This allows plenty of light and air into the tree. Plum trees are best pruned in a vase format to get a short trunk with three or four major branches to come off of the trunk at a 45-degree angle. How to Prune a Plum Tree: The First Three YearsĪll young fruit trees need some pruning to get them off to a good start. Trimming flowering plum trees is not advised. Established fruit tree plums are best pruned in midsummer. Begin pruning immediately when you plant a young tree to ensure a proper shape. Young plums are generally pruned in early spring, before bud break, in order to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. The time for plum tree pruning depends on the maturity and type of plum tree. In addition, keeping fruit trees well pruned protects against both disease and pest infestations. Developing a strong foundation is essential to the life of any fruit tree. When plum trees are not carefully pruned, they can easily become heavy and break under their fruit load.
The purpose of pruning and training is to encourage tree health and increase fruit yield.
Therefore, learning how and when to prune a plum tree is imperative. Anyone can trim plums, but timing is important, as is consistency. Although plum tree pruning is not difficult, it’s important. Plum trees are a lovely addition to any landscape, but without proper trimming and training, they can become a burden rather than an asset.
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