Plum Tree Pruning Learn About How And When To Prune A Plum Tree

The best time to prune plums is early spring or early summer during a dry day. Never prune in winter (to avoid silver leaf disease). If you have a fan-trained plum, you will need to shape as you cut it. Cut back new side shoots to 6 leaves.

When should plum trees be pruned?
How do you prune plum trees?
What month do you prune trees?
How do you prune an overgrown plum tree?
How do you look after a plum tree?
What is the best fertilizer for plum trees?
Can plum trees be pruned in summer?
Why does my plum tree have no fruit?
Can a tree die from pruning?
What month is considered late winter?
What happens if you prune a tree at the wrong time?

When should plum trees be pruned?

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 do you prune plum trees?

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.

What month do you prune trees?

Anytime between late fall and early spring is best for tree trimming or pruning. Talk to your local arborist about pruning before spring blooms emerge. Typically a tree's pruning cycle is 3 to 5 years, but type, size and health play a role in the cycle that will work best for your tree.

How do you prune an overgrown plum tree?

The basic principles are:

If significant pruning is required spread it over two or three years.
Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches (the three Ds) first. ...
Prune away any crossing branches. ...
Thin out the centre of the tree. ...
When pruning at this stage, try to maintain the "balance" of the tree.

How do you look after a plum tree?

Grow plum trees in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Prune in summer and mulch in autumn with home-made compost or well-rotted animal manure. Harvest the plums when ripe and juicy.

What is the best fertilizer for plum trees?

10-10-10 Fertilizer

The fertilizer 10-10-10 is an all-purpose fertilizer that meets the needs of plum trees throughout the growing season. A plum tree that is three years or younger needs no more than 1/2 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer once in mid-April and once in early June.

Can plum trees be pruned in summer?

Many fruit trees, such as apples and pears, are pruned in winter, but plum trees can be susceptible to silver leaf disease if pruned at this time. Plum trees are therefore best pruned in spring or summer.

Why does my plum tree have no fruit?

Frost and low temperatures can affect all fruits, but especially the early flowering plums, nectarines and peaches, by damaging the fruit buds. Spring frosts are the commonest cause of poor fruit crops. ... Both young and mature fruit trees need good supplies of water throughout spring and summer.

Can a tree die from pruning?

Over pruning reduces the foliage that's available for making food for the rest of the plant and can allow pests and diseases access to the tree, if cuts are made incorrectly. ... So, although pruning may not kill your plant directly, over pruned trees and shrubs can die as a long term result of the associated stress.

What month is considered late winter?

When is Late Winter? Late winter is 4 to 6 weeks before spring thaw begins. This could be any time in January to May, depending on your climate.

What happens if you prune a tree at the wrong time?

Mistake #1 – Pruning at the wrong time of year.

Without foliage, the woody structure of the plant is more visible making it easier to determine where cuts should be made. ... Otherwise, the cuts may put too much stress on the plant and make it make it more susceptible to pests, disease, or drought conditions.