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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. Cut off suckers and watersprouts at their source.
What is the best time to prune plum trees?
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.
Should plum trees be pruned 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.
What shape do you prune plum trees?
Prune Japanese Plum Trees to a Vase Shape. Those branches remaining in the center above the primary scaffold branches or any growth below the scaffold branches should be cut off. Any growth arising on scaffold branches within 6” of the trunk should be removed.
Can you trim the top of a plum tree?
If your plum is not unreasonably tall and is basically healthy, you can leave the tree at its existing height and prune it to clear away branches that don’t bear fruit. The first branches to remove are those that are dead, damaged, broken or infected. This type of pruning should be done annually.
How much can you prune a plum tree?
Cut off one half to one third of one-year-old shoots from the previous season to avoid overproduction of fruit. Head back scaffold limbs and upright limbs to a manageable height. Non-dwarf plum trees can grow twenty to thirty feet tall, so cut back tree height so you can pick plums.
How do you take care of 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.
How do you prune a Santa Rosa plum tree?
How to Trim a Dwarf Santa Rosa Plum Tree Cut the tree back immediately after planting. Allow the tree to grow for the summer before choosing three or four branches to become permanent scaffolds, or the primary sideways branches of the tree. Wait to prune the tree again until late in the winter after planting.
Do plums fruit on new wood?
But remember, plums fruit on young wood. Avoid removing branches that are less than three years old unless you have to. Don’t leave a stub of branch sticking out – it will only die back and could introduce disease.
How do you reduce the height of a tree?
There are recommended arboricultural techniques to reduce the height or spread of a tree. Known as crown reduction, branches can be removed back to their point of origin or cut back to a lateral that is large enough to assume the terminal role.
How long do plum trees live?
Like peach and nectarine trees, plum trees are among the shorter-lived species of fruit tree. On average, they may only live for 20-30 years, even less if they fall victim to a storm or an invasion of insects or disease.
Can you summer prune plum trees?
Pruning plum trees in spring or summer enables the tree’s pruning wounds to heal before the spores of silver leaf disease become active during the damp months of autumn and winter. Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards.
How do I make my plum tree smaller?
Prune to open up the center of the tree and remove crossing or crowded limbs. These cuts encourage a vase-like shape. To spur growth of thinner limbs, head back by two-thirds; to slow growth of thicker limbs, head back by one-half.
How do you prune an overgrown fruit tree?
Remove Bad Branches. Start by removing any obviously dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Remove Suckers. Woody plants are often pruned with the goal of encouraging more growth, but not all growth is welcome. Remove Low Branches. Remove Problem Branches. Remove Competing Main Branches. Clear Out the Clutter. Inspect the Tree.
How do you get a plum tree to produce fruit?
There are steps you can take to prevent the problem of no fruit on plum trees. Keep weeds and grass away from the base of a tree. Provide good irrigation and a fertilizing program appropriate for fruiting trees. Fertilizers higher in phosphorus will help with blooming and fruiting.
How tall should a plum tree be?
Most plum trees will reach 16 feet (5 m.) at maturity or 14 feet (4 m.) if they are a dwarf variety. If you live in a more northerly climate, you may consider planting your plum tree in a location where it will have protection from cold winds, as they are prone to late frost damage.
What happens if you prune a tree too much?
Over time, continued over pruning may lead to branches that are too weak to tolerate wind or ice loads, or the plant may simply exhaust itself trying to replenish its canopy. The plant may become extremely weak, allowing a variety of pathogens and insects to invade.
