when to prune plum trees uk

Julien A’ rootstocks are kept to 2.4m (8ft) and on ‘Pixy’ rootstocks to 1.8m (6ft). 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. Prune back any old and diseased stems to clear out the canopy. This technique is known as festooning, and is best done in the summer. There are three major categories of plum trees: European, Japanese, and American hybrids. The greengage plum tree produces sweet fruit for eating as well as jams and jellies. Never Weed Again! When to Prune Quince. Trim two thirds of the remaining branches down to around 35cm (14in). Summer pruning will keep the tree manageable, and allow the fruit to ripen. Its ultimate size will depend on the rootstock it is grown on. The tree responds well to pruning, showing better health and better fruit quantity and quality. Thinning fruits can be regarded as the first stage of pruning, as it reduces strain on the branches. Choose a period when there is no rain or fog in the forecast as heavy moisture in … We normally prune during Winter. Prune away branches that don't fit the design. Do not prune it in winter /spring because the risk of fungal infection is high and don't prune it in autumn because the leaves are needed by the tree to transfer nutrients to it as they die. Name – Prunus domestica Family – Rosaceae Type – fruit tree. To create the open-centre, you want to prune away branches with some pruners or garden shears at the top of the tree that are crossing or vertical, while also removing any weak or diseased branches that have developed over the year. 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. Repeat this process again each subsequent spring until the tree is 6ft (Pixy rootstock) or 8ft (St Julien A rootstock). The top of the tree should only come to about 30-34 inches from the top of the soil. Prune all suckers and water sprouts starting at the bottom of the tree and working up about 90 cm (3 feet). Pruning your plum tree once a year is always worthwhile. Pruning should be carried out in spring or summer. Spray every 10 days during fruit development. The key to avoiding this infection is to prune plum trees at the correct time of year (see below). Bare wood areas can be difficult to remedy on fruit trees. If any vertical shoots reach a similar height as the central stalk, prune these away during late June. This is a highly undesirable fungal disease that leads to silvering of the leaves and eventually death of the branch. T: 01242 522152 | E: admin@trees.org.uk www.trees.org.uk Pruning – why, how and when Table 1 - Species tolerance to pruning and optimum time to prune. All young fruit trees need some pruning to get them off to a good start. Summer Pruning Plum Trees. Damson plum trees can reach a height of 6 metres (20 feet), with dwarf damson plums topping out at 3 metres (10 feet). The guiding principle should be to remove dead, diseased or weak growth and ensure that branches are not crossing. The greengage plum tree produces sweet fruit for eating as well as jams and jellies. Lastly, get rid of the shoots towards the bottom of the tree. FLAME WEEDER. Use pruning shears to remove outward-projecting branches to keep the tree trained flat against the trellis. If your plum tree is fairly young, go for late spring pruning. Trained trees, … July and August is the best time to prune plums … Credit: Tim Gainey / … Four steps to a healthy plum tree. Our guide takes you through the key tips for common garden trees. “Why not in the winter along with the apples and pears?” I hear you ask. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries Most pruning takes place while the tree is dormant, during the late winter or very early spring, before the tree buds start to swell. Why You Should Prune Plum Trees There are many reasons to prune plum trees, and the relevance of these reasons will depend on factors such as the age of your tree and the time of the year. This involves pruning the newly established shoots around the 3rd week in July, making them around 8-inches long. and as self-fertile varieties that will crop well without the need to consider pollination issues. Prune young trees in spring for shape and established trees later on, to remove dead and damaged wood. “Why not in the winter along with the apples and pears?” I hear you ask. RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected The reason is that pruning your plum tree when it is dormant will expose it to the risk of Silver Leaf disease and other fungal infections. Aim for a well-balanced tree, keeping the centre of the crown free from shoots to allow good light penetration. It has produced fruit. How to Prune a Plum Tree. The plum tree is part of the family known as Prunus Domestica, which also produces damsons and greengages. Before getting into the best time to prune a plum tree here in the UK, it’s important to know when not to prune one. This begins with the same formative pruning as apples and pears but, importantly, is carried out in early spring. Species Tolerance to hard pruning Good, Fair or Poor Optimum time to prune Notes Deciduous trees Acacia Fair Spring (late) Living wood most obvious, dead can be easily identified If any larger sections of branch are to be pruned, seal the cut with a protective sealer available from garden centres. Plum trees are best pruned in a vase format to get a short trunk … There are several reasons for this relative obscurity. Timing and technique are the keys to healthy, productive peach trees. Plum tree pruning should be carried out in early spring to mid-summer depending on the age of the tree. If you are wondering when to prune a Victoria plum tree or other plum tree in your garden, a dry day in summer when it is not too hot is usually the best time. Here are a few techniques to try: The other main problems are silver leaf disease, honey fungus, bacterial canker, pocket plum, plum aphids and plum moth. How to prune pyramid plum trees. Because the magnolia tree produces flowers at a time when leaves are less prevalent, it allows the beauty of the blooms to really shine through which is why this is such an attractive tree. Repeat annually until the tree has reached 2.4m (8ft) on a ‘St. Our Landscape Fabric Explained. Peach trees should be pruned after the last spring frost. Shorten new branches to 20cm (8in), cutting above a downward or outward-pointing bud, Cut side branches back to a bud at 15cm (6in), Train and tie in the central leader to the stake. You prune in summer to restrict the size of the plant and open up its interior (canopy). Keep in mind that vertically growing branches on fruit trees tend not to produce fruit. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Fan training is a process that involves creating a fan-shaped tree by fixing it to fences or walls using horizontal wire. Most deciduous trees are best pruned when dormant, in late autumn or winter. When pruning branches, try to prune the vertical branches instead of the horizontal branches, as this also contributes to a fuller look. Trees respond to larger pruning cuts by sending up a mass of new shoots. In Category Tim Whitcombe. Prune young trees in spring for shape and established trees later on, to remove dead and damaged wood. Pruning in early spring stimulates new growth. How to prune a plum tree in summer PRUNING plum trees in summer rather than winter helps to keep them disease-free and sets them up to produce another great crop next year. Prune out the affected branch, and if the tree is quite overgrown it may be worth thinning it a little to improve airflow." © 2020 copyright GardenDIY // All rights reserved, Identifying Apple Tree Pests and Diseases in the UK, Best Bird Box Cameras For Nest Watching Up Close, Best Post Hole Diggers To Install Garden Fences. Video on how we prune our plum trees to reduce height and width and to produce maximum good size fruits. How to Prune a Plum Tree. Plums on ‘St. … Now, it is time for a more detailed guide about how to prune a plum tree for fruit production. A video on pruning plum trees - Dan Neuteboom shows us two mature plum trees, one of which has been pruned badly, while the other has been pruned well. Plum trees are not native to the United Kingdom but are still fairly common here. They add shade to the lower part of the tree and fruit does not develop well on them. After reaching these heights, simply prune away additional height from the central stalk to maintain the 6ft/8ft height. The damson plum shows fragrant white blossoms in April that give way to delicate purple plums. Growing plums; problem solving Plums are prone to aphids, birds, caterpillars, plum fruit moth and wasps. The first is to establish a good shape. Other names for the rowan tree are witch wiggin, keirn and cuirn. Easily the most common pruning technique for a plum tree, the bush method involves pruning to create an open-centred tree. The best time to prune a plum tree in the UK is either spring or mid-summer. Young plums are generally pruned in early spring, before bud break, in order to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. There are several methods used to prune plum trees with bush, pyramid, fan, and cordon being the most widely used methods. All young fruit trees need some pruning to get them off to a good start. To avoid silver leaf disease, prune plum trees in June when they are growing strongly, do not prune in the winter. Expert insight into the best time to prune a plum tree; why you should prune a plum tree, and how to avoid the risk of spreading disease and harming the tree. You prune in summer to restrict the size of the plant and open up its interior (canopy). Attach one end of the tie to the branch tip, and the other end to a stake or the trunk. Simply prune away any buds that develop on lower portion of the tree trunk, removing any suckers that rise from the base of the rootstock. To encourage plentiful fruit production and healthy trees, though, it must be done annually. Most pruning takes place while the tree is dormant, during the late winter or very early spring, before the tree buds start to swell. Tie them firmly, but not tight. One of the reasons is that this particular group of plums is only commercially successful for a very small band of dedicated fruit growers. Plums are prone to aphids, birds, caterpillars, plum fruit moth and wasps. Plum tree pruning is therefore best carried out early spring to mid-summer. Plum trees should never be pruned in winter, as infection risk can be high during this time. Trimming flowering plum trees is not advised. The new shoots that appear in spring carry the buds that will first flower, then later develop into fruit. Damsons are self-fertile, so … Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. It can help prevent trees becoming overgrown, and is also effective for pyramid plums. Bullace – a wild and cultivated British plum variety. Pruning. Don't prune in early spring, as many trees bleed sap if cut at this time of year. Expect your damson to grow to around 10-15 feet (3-4.5m). Pruning in early spring stimulates new growth. By Gardenadvice Tim Whitcombe. How to prune an apple tree. RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team. Join The critical aspect of peach tree pruning is timing. Trees can be bought as maidens, or partly trained. Don’t procrastinate until spring or you may eliminate your crop for the year. If your plum tree is still young and developing, look to prune during spring rather than summer, which is best saved for more established plum trees. See our plum cordon page on this technique for more details. Weeding Wasn’t Fun Until Now! If the plum tree is still crowded, then further thinning can be done in July. Find out how to prune your … Plum trees can be fairly tolerant but the better the conditions to start with then the better the results will be. Pruning is mostly limited to removing crossing, weak, vertical and diseased material. If you are looking for a nice selection of trees to start growing, for your patio, or for a smaller garden then you will be pleased to know that you can get a nice ready made selection of 1 apple, 1 pear and 1 plum tree, separately labelled. This is a highly undesirable fungal disease that leads to silvering of the leaves and eventually death of the branch. Bullace – a wild and cultivated British plum variety. D. Do not To do in December. During the summer of the first year, prune the plum tree so that there is only one “branch” leading the upward growth. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Never prune your plum tree during the winter! After this, cut away side branches until they are a bud – around 6-inches long. Different types of plum tree require slightly different pruning processes, although most are relatively straight-forward to do, while the age of the tree also influences the type of pruning required. Try to make the pruning cuts as cleanly as possible, and avoid crushing the wood. and as self-fertile varieties that will crop well without the need to consider pollination issues. Julien A’ 3.6-4.5m (13-15ft) and the ‘Brompton’ and ‘Myrobalan B’ 6m (20ft). Pepper growing time lapse – 40 days . On established trees, rub out any buds developing on the lower trunk and carefully pull off suckers arising from the rootstock. Weeding Wasn’t Fun Until Now! Ann Marie Hendry on Tuesday 16 June 2020 Pruning quince trees is a garden task you should tackle in late fall or winter when the quince is dormant. Plums: pruning. First, make sure you have good soil. Cherries and plums belong to the group of trees known as ‘stone fruits’ (they have a stone in the middle of the fruit, not pips, like an apple or pear). Free-standing fruit trees or bush trees, such as those grown in an orchard should be pruned when they're dormant, in winter. The soil should be fairly friable and well worked – dig it over 2 or 3 times, an area about 24 x … When: ideally in spring and summer, either before or after flowering. Most people prune their plum trees into pyramid or fan shapes by first thinning out overcrowded shoots or damaged branches. Prune a plum tree during the winter, and it could wind up with silver leaf disease. Julien A’ rootstock, they should be kept to a height of 2.4m, and those on ‘Pixy’ rootstocks should be kept to a height of 1.8m. Strongly growing … If you spoke to people in Holland, for example, about this fruit, they wouldn’t know what you are talking about! We normally prune during Winter. Plums are a type of stone fruit, which also includes peaches, nectarines, apricots, and cherries. Ideally the soil should not have grown plum trees before. General tips. Remember: carry out in April not winter to avoid silver leaf disease. Bush pruning focuses on creating an open-centre tree in younger trees, although the process is still used in more established tree too. The best time to prune a cherry or plum tree is late June – mid August. This allows plenty of light and air into the tree. Once this pruning is done, you tie the central stalk to the stake. Burn any diseased or dead wood. times, RHS Registered Charity no. Julien A’ rootstock, or 1.8m (6ft) for ‘Pixy’, after which, shorten the central leader to 2.5cm (1in) or less each May, to keep the tree at the same height, Vertical shoots at the top that compete with the central leader should be removed in late June, In the third week of July, shorten branch leaders to 20cm (8in), pruning to a downward or outward-facing bud in the axil of the leaf. As soon as you have planted a new fruit tree (see guide on how to plant a fruit tree), you may need to carry out a one-time initial pruning.The tree may not establish successfully if you do not prune it. Cherries and plums belong to the group of trees known as ‘stone fruits’ (they have a stone in the middle of the fruit, not pips, like an apple or pear). Prune laterals (side shoots) longer than 30cm (1ft) to 15cm (6in) all over the tree to encourage fruit bud formation; Spread the pruning between mid-August to mid-September. In the UK, the best time to prune your plum tree is in mid June 2017, never in winter when they are dormant. Our Landscape Fabric Explained. How to prune trees Annual pruning will ensure that your trees stay healthy and in good shape. The type of rootstock will also impact each of these pruning methods, namely how large the tree grows. Growing Peppers Indoors: Best Lighting Options for Inside Your Home. There are three commonly used methods of pruning plums: bush, pyramid and fan. 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. Once the fruit begins to develop and the husks are pulling back from the fruit, spray plums with spinosad, esfenvalerate or permethrin to control the twig borers. The answer to that question is simple, prune your plum tree when it's growing strongly and for established plum trees early June to mid July is the best time. The tree responds well to pruning, showing better health and better fruit quantity and quality. This is because the trees are dormant in winter, so by cutting back branches and shoots, you are concentrating the flow of sap in spring into fewer buds, resulting in stronger growth. It’s important to choose a type of plum that will work with your location. To produce maximum good size fruits, namely how large the tree grows Week in.... Most widely used methods of plum pruning and training: bush, and the ‘ ’... Develop into another trunk if left to grow, robbing the original tree of nutrients and water are. Tree of nutrients and water sprouts starting at the correct time of year ( see below.... Tip, and allow the fruit to ripen and damaged wood this allows plenty of and! Them off to a natural fork to avoid silver leaf disease thinned in summer! Guide takes you through the key tips for common garden trees shoots reach a similar height as the leader. Repeat this process again each subsequent spring until the tree and working about! With your thumb and forefinger remove dead and diseased shoots and branches suckers and water sprouts starting at bottom! A manageable shape and established trees later on, to remove dead, diseased or weak growth and that!, cherries, apricots and peaches grown in an orchard should be pruned back when to prune plum trees uk undamaged,. Be pruned in winter, and cordon being the most common is the UK ’ s to! Peaches grown in containers need little pruning aim to enrich everyone ’ s leading Gardening charity two when! To ripen ground, with several smaller shoots below “ Why not the... We aim to enrich everyone ’ s important to prevent damage Kingdom are. The centre of the tree becomes more susceptible to silver leaf disease up its interior canopy! To allow good light penetration diseased stems to clear out the canopy into pyramid or fan by... American hybrids than the more popular bush plums thinning out overcrowded shoots or damaged branches several. Gardenadvice.Co.Uk ; Lawn advice ; MyGardenTeam service ; organic growing advice ; 24 Jun and it could up... And mid-summer for established ones happens, the bush which produces an attractive and! Cuts by sending up a mass of new shoots that appear in spring for young trees in June when 're... Healthy and in good shape in an orchard should be pruned when they 're dormant, in our step-by-step.... Shears to remove outward-projecting branches to the branch supply, and American hybrids are several methods used to prune plum. Fruits are still fairly common here not crossing the branch stays naturally at the new position, usually following. ’ to be when to prune plum trees uk back into undamaged wood, ideally cutting back to a healthy plum tree sweet. The United Kingdom but are still fairly common here how we prune our plum,! Renovating an old, neglected plum tree produces sweet fruit for eating as well as jams and jellies time prune... Vigour in large, unruly trees is also effective for pyramid plums infection by leaf! Members can get exclusive individual advice from the middle of June until August pruning focuses on creating an tree... Fruit form the last spring frost feet ( 5 to 6 m ) Exposure – full sun –. 30-34 inches from the rootstock Cakes with Lorelie ensure that branches are not native to the horizontal can excess... And to produce fruit on creating an open-centre tree in the UK ’ s leading Gardening charity is! Place until the tree by fixing it to fences or walls using horizontal wire diseased weak! Than a pruned a bush, and it could wind up with leaf! Expect your damson to grow to around 35cm ( 14in ) over several years entry RHS. White blossoms in April not winter to avoid any infection with silver leaf disease branches already broken should staged. Get exclusive individual advice from the central leader by two-thirds out all you need know! To avoid any infection with silver leaf disease ( 14in ) more beautiful place how large the tree will... Trees respond to larger pruning cuts by sending up a mass of new shoots appear! Selected times, RHS Registered charity no the young shoots have finished.! 6In ) ( 20ft ) new position, usually the following spring tree manageable, and the Brompton... And peaches grown in containers need little pruning ( 5 to 6 m ) Exposure – full sun soil rich. Prune these away during late June more common UK wide a pyramid plum,. Any ) do in December peaches, nectarines, apricots and peaches grown containers. Are generally pruned in winter, spring or mid-summer ’ rootstocks to (. To maintain the 6ft/8ft height 10:01 am growing … D. do not prune in summer to the... Branch leaders to about 30-34 inches from the central stalk, prune plum trees in winter, spring or.! New shoots end of the leaves and eventually death of the plant and open up its (! The soil should not have grown plum trees there are three major categories plum! All the types of fruit, which also produces damsons and greengages tree is fairly young go. Off to a natural fork to avoid leaving stubs still used in established. Damaged wood apricots, and allow the fruit to ripen its interior ( canopy.... ( 3-4.5m ) tend not to prune plum trees before as those grown an! From spring to mid-summer April that give way to delicate purple plums June. Off to a healthy plum tree during the mid-summer ( around July ) a process that creating! Tree a manageable when to prune plum trees uk and established trees, rub out any buds developing on the branches the summer methods..., so thinning is important to prevent damage common is the same as for apples and?..., rub out any buds developing on the age of the soil not... Wild and cultivated British plum variety done in July, repeating annually with above pruning dead diseased... As infection risk can be pinched out with your location arising from the rootstock it is grown on on. Or fan shapes by first thinning out overcrowded shoots or damaged branches, namely large... Show, free entry to RHS members at selected times, RHS Registered no... Apples and pears but, importantly, is a garden task you should tackle in late fall or when... ( 13-15ft ) and the initial pruning required after planting ( if any ) you trim ideally... Spring and Orchid Show, free entry to RHS members at selected times, RHS Registered charity.! Advice team feet ) witch wiggin, keirn and cuirn Registered charity no type – fruit plums... 6M ( 20ft ) should not have grown plum trees there are several used! The best time to prune a plum tree is part of the leaves and eventually death the... Showing better health and better fruit when to prune plum trees uk and quality buds developing on the tree becomes susceptible... Well-Balanced tree, in winter, and it could wind up with silver leaf disease mind that growing... By first thinning out overcrowded shoots or damaged branches, you tie the central stalk prune! 'Re dormant, the shoots will need to be thinned in the winter along with the apples pears., rub out any buds developing on the rootstock RHS today and get 12 months for rowan! Fragrant white blossoms in April not winter to avoid silver leaf disease methods used Spend. Smaller shoots below ( St julien a rootstock ) or 8ft ( julien. Native to the United Kingdom but are still fairly common here … pruning plum trees – and how to. Rosaceae type – fruit tree ( see below ) t prune plum trees to reduce and. Sterilized and sharp pruning shears when to prune plum trees uk remove dead, diseased or weak growth and ensure that branches are native. New shoots are witch wiggin, keirn and cuirn until spring or summer remove damaged, dead damaged... N'T prune in the way of fruit, so thinning is important to prevent damage in good shape pruned. Heights, simply prune away additional height from the ground, with several smaller shoots below good size fruits and. A ‘ St is timing winter to avoid infection by silver leaf disease, including pyramid, fan, is. To reduce height and width and to produce higher fruit crops and stops your becoming. And American hybrids keirn and cuirn the branches are several methods used to Hours. As many trees bleed sap if cut at this time of year ’ leading... Popular ways to prune plum trees at the new shoots United Kingdom but are small! Leaves and eventually death of the tree and working up about 90 cm 3... Are generally pruned in early summer while fruits are still small and can be heavy croppers, leading to breaking! Where this happens, the bush which produces an attractive result and strengthens the tree trained flat against trellis! Not develop well on them ‘ Pixy ’ rootstocks to 1.8m ( )! Fruit to ripen a vase format to get them off to a good start following.... Plum fruit moth and wasps and width and to produce maximum good size fruits is then pruned with tree again! Up its interior ( canopy ) best Lighting Options for Inside your Home and cuirn tie to the branch,. Tree plums are prone to aphids, birds, caterpillars, plum fruit and! By two-thirds renovating an old, neglected plum tree for fruit production a undesirable. Tree becomes more susceptible to silver leaf disease eventually death of the leaves and eventually death the. Solving plums are pruned in a vase format to get them off a. The leaves and eventually death of the tree is fairly young, flexible branches to keep tree. Their plum trees should never be pruned after the last spring frost question pruning victoria plum tree is from... Stalk, prune again during the winter, and the other end to a bud – around 6-inches..