Growing Damson Plum Trees How To Care For Damson Plums

A pH level slightly on either side of neutral is fine for this adaptable tree. Once established, Damson plum trees require little care. Water the tree deeply once every week during the first growing season. Thereafter, water deeply when the soil is dry, but never allow the ground to remain soggy or to become bone dry.

1. How do you take care of a damson tree?
2. How do you prune a damson plum tree?
3. How long does it take a damson tree to fruit?
4. When should damson trees be pruned?
5. Where should I plant a damson tree?
6. Can you eat Damsons straight from the tree?
7. Do Damsons fruit on old wood?
8. How big do damson plum trees get?
9. How do you know when damsons are ready?
10. How do you keep a damson tree small?
11. Will a damson tree pollinate a plum tree?
12. How much space does a damson tree need?

How do you take care of a damson tree?

Caring for your Damson Tree

They need to be kept moist. Especially bareroot trees as they may suffer a little root damage when they are lifted. To help with this place a Tree Mat around the base of the tree to reduce water loss and to protect the tree from weeds.

How do you prune a damson plum tree?

Prune your Damson plum during the dormant stage in late winter or early spring. Shape the tree and remove dead and diseased branches. Also break off any suckers that grow from the roots or trunk of the tree. Once the tree reaches your desired height, cut off the trunk just above the top branch.

How long does it take a damson tree to fruit?

Damsons are not difficult to grow. They will come true from a stone and will produce fruit within 15 years. Alternatively, you can buy a tree grafted on to a rootstock that will control the amount of growth.

When should damson trees be pruned?

Pruning during the winter increases the chance of the tree becoming infected with silver leaf fungus so, like all plums, damsons should only be pruned from late spring to early autumn (April to September).

Where should I plant a damson tree?

Planting against a wall

Be wary that the soils isn't dry because it very often is in such situations. If necessary irrigate the soil regularly for some weeks before planting, as well as after. When planting the stem of the tree should ideally be about 18” away from the wall.

Can you eat Damsons straight from the tree?

It is technically possible to enjoy damsons straight off the tree, but only if you've found the right variety growing in a sunny spot so they're burstingly ripe – and that's a state that the local bird and wasp populations are unlikely to consent to.

Do Damsons fruit on old wood?

Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease.

How big do damson plum trees get?

Mature Size

The standard Damson plum grows to a height of around 20' and a spread of around 20' at maturity. The dwarf variety grows to a height of around 10' with a spread of up to 10'.

How do you know when damsons are ready?

On the damson side agree if making gin that they can be hard (still freeze them though to break the skins). If making jam or juice you have to wait until they are soft and obviously if you just want to eat them (cooked or raw) they have to be soft and juicy!

How do you keep a damson tree small?

The columnar Damson tree

Pruning takes place in the second half of the summer and is simply a matter of trimming back all of the side growths to about 3”. Established trees only need to be pruned once a year but young trees show more vigour and you may need to go over them again in late Autumn.

Will a damson tree pollinate a plum tree?

The European plum and its sister the gage are cultivated forms of Prunus domestica, a tree native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. ... Damsons are mostly self-fertile, though will also cross-pollinate with plums and gages.

How much space does a damson tree need?

As Damsons are quite hardy they can tolerate any aspect, even a North or East wall that isn't much use for other fruit trees. You will need a space of 200cm's high and wide to accommodate the tree and make sure the soil isn't too dry as sometimes it can be against a wall.