Pruning your plum tree annually is essential for maintaining its health, shape, and fruit productivity. Timing is crucial, as pruning at the wrong time can expose the tree to diseases. Follow these steps to prune your plum tree effectively, whether it’s young or older.
Method 1: Pruning Young Plum Trees
Step 1: Prune at the Right Time
- Dormant Pruning: Prune during late winter when the tree has no leaves and is not actively growing. This encourages vigorous growth in the spring and is less likely to damage the tree.
- Summer Pruning: This can slow the growth of a tree that is getting too big and thin out overcrowded new growth.
- Timing: Prune as late in the winter as possible before new growth occurs to avoid damage from heavy freezes. Save some pruning for the summer to prevent vegetative overgrowth and reduced fruit production.
Step 2: Cut the Tree to Size After Planting
- Prune the young tree during its first dormant season to encourage good growth and shape. Cut it down to about 30 inches (76.2 cm) high, making the cut just above a bud.
- Use loppers to make clean, sharp cuts, and consider painting the tree with white latex paint to protect it from sunburn and pests.
Step 3: Create a Scaffold Whorl
- Choose four evenly spaced branches to serve as the tree’s scaffold whorl, providing structure and balance. Cut each branch back to 1 or 2 buds, and remove the remaining side shoots and branches flush against the trunk.
- For the first two years, prune only during the dormant season and keep the scaffold whorl cut back to 10 inches (25.4 cm).
Step 4: Create More Scaffold Whorls in the Third Year
- By the third year, create more sets of scaffold whorls from strong lateral shoots. Cut the whorls closer to the top of the tree back to 1 bud, and leave the whorls closer to the bottom with 2 buds. This will give the plum tree a vase or Christmas-tree shape, allowing sunlight to filter through and encourage healthy growth.
Step 5: Keep Pruning the Trunk
- Cut back the trunk by a foot or two each year to control the tree’s height and encourage bushy growth toward the bottom. Ensure a bud is left at the tip.
Step 6: Continue Until Desired Height
- Continue creating new scaffold whorls and cutting back the trunk during the dormant period for the first 3-5 years. Once the tree reaches your desired height, transition to pruning techniques suitable for older trees.
Method 2: Maintaining Older Plum Trees
Step 1: Prune Dead and Diseased Branches
- Remove dead or diseased branches annually to prevent the tree from wasting energy on them. Use a tree saw or loppers to make clean cuts flush with the trunk.
- Larger branches with a collar should be cut just outside the collar, a few inches from the trunk. Dead and diseased branches can be removed at any time of the year.
Step 2: Prune Branches That Don’t Bear Fruit
- Remove branches that do not produce fruit by cutting them flush with the trunk. New growth on the same branch is unlikely to yield different results.
Step 3: Cut Back the Suckers
- Remove suckers, which are new shoots that grow from the root system around the base of the tree. Cut them all the way to the ground using loppers to direct the tree’s energy into the main trunk.
Step 4: Cut Branches That Cross Over Other Branches
- Prune new branches that cross over existing branches to prevent overcrowding and ensure sunlight and air flow through the tree. This helps reduce the risk of disease and pests.
Step 5: Prune in the Summer to Discourage Growth
- If your plum tree is getting too big, prune in the summer to slow down its growth. Summer pruning limits growth for the season but can also redirect the tree’s energy into leaf growth rather than fruit production.
- Avoid pruning too late in the summer to prevent vulnerability to cold winter temperatures. In the US, do not prune after July to reduce the risk of frost damage to new growth.
By following these pruning techniques, you can ensure your plum tree remains healthy, productive, and beautifully shaped. Happy gardening! 🌳