Pruning plum

Pruning a plum is one of the important stages in the annual cycle of care for this crop. This procedure performs quite a lot of functions, and it is undesirable to ignore it. Proper pruning will add life to the tree, save it from diseases and increase the quantity and quality of fruits.

In addition, a well-groomed tree looks much more aesthetically pleasing.

Is it necessary to shape the plum?

The plum tree begins to form from the moment the seedling is planted. If this is not done, the crown will be very thickened, which will lead to stagnation of air and excess humidity inside it. Such conditions are a favorable environment for the development of diseases, especially fungal and putrefactive ones.

If a tree grows uncontrollably, it spends a lot of energy growing and ripening unnecessary shoots. This significantly reduces fruiting, since the tree simply does not have the strength to produce a good harvest. In addition, the central part of the tree is heavily shaded and does not receive enough sunlight. On a neglected tree, the fruits become smaller and their number decreases; moreover, their ripening occurs mainly on the peripheral branches.

If you do not prune the plum tree, the space inside the crown will gradually fill with dry branches. They are formed as a result of freezing in winter or simply breaking from the wind or under the weight of fruit. Such dead wood is a real hostel for the larvae of various pests, of which there are quite a lot of plums.

What types of pruning are there?

Each of the existing types of plum pruning is carried out for a specific purpose. The following types of pruning are distinguished:

• sanitary;
• thinning;
• rejuvenating;
• formative.

Each type has its own timing and frequency.

Sanitary pruning

This is a mandatory type of pruning that must be carried out at least twice per season: in the spring, before the buds swell, and in the fall, after the end of leaf fall. Sanitary pruning is carried out to rid the tree of unnecessary trash, such as dry and broken branches.

At the same time, all shoots infected with fungus or other diseases are cut out.

Thinning plum pruning

The name speaks for itself, since such pruning aims to rid the crown of thickening. To do this, all improperly growing shoots are cut out, as well as those that grow deep into the crown. Vertical shoots (tops) are also removed.

Rejuvenating plum pruning

An adult plum tree may require such pruning if its fruiting began to noticeably decline and annual growth has decreased to 10–15 cm. The essence of rejuvenating pruning is to gradually replace all old wood with new wood. To do this, they cut out part of the old branches of the crown (usually no more than ¼ of the part), instead growing young shoots and, as it were, forming the tree anew.

After 4 seasons the crown is completely renewed. This procedure allows you to significantly extend the life of the plum tree and the period of its active fruiting.

Formative plum pruning

Formative pruning is carried out in the first years of the tree’s life and allows you to form a young plum in one way or another. There are several types of crowns, which are formed by pruning:

• sparsely tiered;
• cup-shaped;
• pyramidal.

The formative scheme for pruning plums in the spring depends on the gardener and is chosen by him depending on climatic conditions, variety and personal preferences.

A video on how to form a plum crown on a young tree can be viewed at the link below.

How to prune a plum tree correctly

When pruning plum trees, gardeners use various techniques that allow them to prune in one way or another. Such techniques include the following:

• Thinning. Provides for the complete removal of a branch or part of it from a branch, while the length of the branch itself does not change.
• Shortening. Removing the top of a branch to a certain length.

Both techniques can be performed in various ways. These are:

1. Ring cut. Used when completely removing a branch. In this case, you should not leave stumps that are too large, or make oblique or too long cuts.
2. Kidney cut. It is used when forming the crown to set the direction of shoot growth. The shoot is shortened at an angle of 45° above the correctly oriented bud.
3. Transfer to side escape. This is done to change the direction of branch growth. A promising side shoot is selected, and the branch is cut 2 mm above the ring.

Principles of plum pruning

Pruning is a rather responsible procedure, and if done incorrectly, it will more likely harm the tree than help it. It must be done in a timely manner, otherwise the plant will take a long time to recover. The cuts must be made smoothly and accurately, so you need to use only a high-quality sharp tool. It is mandatory to sterilize it both before and after pruning.

After the procedure, it is necessary to treat all sections with a disinfectant, otherwise there is a high risk of infection. After processing, the cut areas should be covered with garden varnish. This will prevent the leakage of tree sap and will promote speedy healing of the wound.

How to prune a plum in spring: tips for beginners

Before you start pruning a plum tree, it is advisable to study this issue in theory. This will allow you to understand why this procedure is done and how it affects the tree. Then you can move on to practice. The first time it is better to carry out pruning with one of the experienced gardeners who have the appropriate skills.

To remove unnecessary growth of small thickness, you can use garden pruners.Larger branches are removed using a hacksaw. When cutting large branches, you must first make a cut from below. Otherwise, the sawn branch, breaking off under its own weight, can cause a large tear in the bark. Cuts “for the bud” and “for the side shoot” are made using a sharp garden knife.

Timing for pruning plums in spring

In order not to harm the tree and help it recover quickly, it is imperative to follow the recommended deadlines.

When can you prune a plum tree in spring?

The spring pruning procedure is carried out before the beginning of the growing season. You need to choose a time when the soil has already thawed, but the plant is still dormant. At this time, the movement of juices in it has not yet begun, and the buds have not swollen. In the southern regions this time falls at the end of February - beginning of March, in the middle zone a little later.

Is it possible to prune a flowering plum tree?

The flowering period is the time of greatest intensity of sap flow in trees. Any pruning at this time can lead to increased release of sap in the cut areas, which will greatly weaken the tree and may even lead to its death.

How to prune a plum tree in spring

The crown of an adult plum tree can be shaped in several ways. In addition to the fact that a tree with a beautiful, neat crown looks more aesthetically pleasing, it also makes it easier to work with, as well as increases productivity, reduces disease incidence and prolongs life.

Video on how to properly prune a plum in spring – follow the link below.

How to shape a plum into a bowl

The formation of a plum with a bowl-shaped crown is achieved by limiting the growth of the central conductor at a low height. This allows growth to be transferred to strong lateral shoots, which, overgrowing, gradually form a cup.This method has several advantages:

• The height of the tree is low; you can work with it without special tools.
• Increased yield due to clarified center.

How to trim a plum tree in tiers

A sparsely layered crown is one of the main ways of forming fruit trees, including plums. The essence of this method is the formation of several (usually three) fruit-bearing tiers of branches, separated from each other. A crown of this type is formed over four years, in each of which the next, higher tier is laid.

A tree whose crown is formed in this way retains a central leader shoot, which is pruned only on a fully formed tree. It makes the entire structure strong and stable.

Pyramid plum pruning

Pruning a plum tree with a pyramid-shaped crown is also done in several stages. During the first three years, the leader and skeletal branches are pruned and shortened; in subsequent years, corrective pruning is performed to maintain the desired shape. Pyramid plums are not very tall and are often planted as an ornamental tree.

Bush plum pruning

The bush form of cultivation is atypical for plums, however, it is also used by gardeners, especially in cold climates. The bush form is achieved by removing the central conductor and growing several equivalent shoots on a short trunk.

How to trim a tall plum tree

If the plum has not been formed properly, it can grow to a considerable height. In this case, it is better to lower the crown; this will improve the quality of the fruit and make the work easier. The crown can be reduced in stages or all at once.If the age of the plum does not exceed 10 years, the central conductor can simply be cut off at a height of about 2.5 m. All shoots growing nearby are shortened to the same length.

The crown of older trees is gradually reduced by cutting off skeletal and semi-skeletal branches onto a side shoot. By gradually removing vertical shoots, over several seasons the crown can be reduced to an acceptable size.

Do I need to trim the lower branches of a plum tree?

Young shoots often appear on the plum trunk below the skeletal branches. When pruning, it must be removed by cutting it into a ring. Gardeners have a rule: the trunk below the skeletal branches must be clean. And whitewashed.

How to trim tops

Tops are vertical shoots that never produce fruit. After pruning, they begin to form in excess and greatly thicken the crown. So that they do not take away the strength of the tree, they can be cut throughout the season.

Using various stretch marks and weights, some tops are given a horizontal direction of growth, thus turning them into fruiting branches.

Formation of plum according to the age of trees

The formation of the plum crown in one way or another begins in the first year after planting and continues for several years. The crown is usually fully formed by the 4th year.

Pruning plum seedlings when planting in spring

When forming the crown in a sparse-tiered manner, the seedling after planting is cut at a height of 60–80 cm. Below the cut, 3–4 buds should remain. After pruning, shoots will begin to grow from them, which will become the skeletal branches of the lower tier. Pruning plum trees when planting in spring is the basis for proper formation of the tree for all subsequent years.

How to shape a plum in the first year

In the first year after planting, no more pruning activities are carried out. The following spring after planting, the formation of the lower tier begins and the middle one is laid. To do this, do the following:

• Choose 3-4 strong shoots, growing in different directions from the trunk and located approximately at the same level. The remaining shoots are cut into rings.
• Small branches of the first tier, the length of which is less than 0.3 m, are left, all the rest are also cut into a ring.
• Selected 3-4 shoots are pruned at the same level, approximately halfway through the topmost shoot.
• The central conductor is shortened so that its height is 0.15–0.2 m above the place where the shoots are cut.

Pruning a 2 year old plum

Next spring, pruning of the 2-year-old plum tree continues. At this time, the formation of the second tier of plums ends and the third and last one is laid. At approximately a distance of 0.5–0.6 m from the lower tier, 2 or three promising shoots are selected, extending in different directions from the trunk. All events that were held in the previous year are repeated. Branches growing deep into the crown, competing shoots and tops are also removed.

Pruning a young plum

The formation of the crown ends next spring. At a distance of 0.4–0.5 m from the second tier, the most powerful shoot is left; all steel shoots, including the central conductor, are cut “into a ring.” The shoots of the lower and middle tier are pruned. After this, young plums can be pruned only for sanitary and thinning purposes, removing thickening of the crown and limiting upward growth.

How to prune a mature plum tree

An adult fruiting plum tree is pruned several times per season. in spring and sanitary pruning is carried out in the fall, removing dried, broken and diseased branches.At the same time, branches growing above the crown are transferred to a side shoot to limit the upward growth of the tree. Tops that are growing incorrectly, rubbing against each other and directed deep into the crown of the branch are also cut out.

How to prune an old plum tree

A sign of the need to rejuvenate an old plum is a decrease in yield, a decrease in the annual growth of shoots to 10–15 cm and the movement of fruiting to the upper part of the crown. To rejuvenate, the tree is gradually rid of old wood by sawing out skeletal branches. This procedure is carried out for 3-4 seasons. During this time, the tree will be completely overgrown with new shoots.

Pruning a neglected plum tree

If the tree has not been pruned for a long time, you should not try to restore it to normal condition in one go. First of all, you need to inspect and remove all dry, broken and diseased branches. After this, you can begin thinning pruning. It is necessary to remove the top shoots that grow deep into the crown and rub against each other. The current year's increases are cut by a third of their value. These measures will significantly lighten the crown. After harvesting, it will be possible to assess the condition of the tree, from the point of view of fruiting, and outline measures for its rejuvenation for the next season.

How to trim a yellow plum

There are quite a few varieties of yellow plum. There are no nuances to its cultivation, and pruning is done in the same way as other plum varieties.

Pruning columnar plum

Columnar trees are becoming increasingly popular due to their small size and compact crown. They are also planted for decorative purposes. Columnar plum does not require crown formation, and only broken or dried branches have to be trimmed.

Pruning can also be purely decorative; it is carried out to maintain the shape of the crown. In this case, part of the harvest is lost, but when growing columnar plums for decorative purposes, this does not matter.

How to prune a bush plum

If the plum crown is formed by a bush, it also needs to be trimmed. In addition to sanitary pruning, during which dry and diseased wood is removed, thinning is carried out, during which all shoots growing deep into the bush are removed.

Be sure to remove root shoots, of which the plum produces quite a lot. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface. The shoots need to be cut out near the very root, digging out the top layer of soil. If you cut it too high, the situation will worsen and the growth will become even larger.

Pruning plum in summer

Summer pruning has a number of advantages. At this time, all the shortcomings of the crown are clearly visible: dry and broken branches that went unnoticed during spring pruning, thickening areas, growing tops, etc. And also shoots that have flaws in the bark, affected by diseases or fungus are clearly visible.

Pruning a plum tree in summer for beginners - see the video at the link below.

Caring for plums after pruning

After trimming, all cuts larger than 1 cm in diameter must be disinfected with a solution of 1% copper sulfate. This will prevent fungal spores from entering the wound. After this, the wounds are covered with garden varnish or painted over with natural oil paint. Cut branches must be collected and burned.

Conclusion

Correct and timely pruning of plum trees can not only increase productivity, but also significantly extend the life and period of active fruiting of the tree. However, you should not strive to carry it out at any cost. If the deadlines are missed, it is better to refuse pruning and prune the plum next spring, otherwise the consequences for the tree can be catastrophic.

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