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.

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.

When should you prune plum trees UK?

In the UK, the best time to prune your plum tree is in mid June 2017, never in winter when they are dormant. 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. Strongly growing plum trees are more resistant fungal infections.

When should you prune a plum tree?

Prune when the buds are just bursting, or when the tree is just beginning to flower. Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards. Again, the aim is to keep the tree a manageable size and shape, while allowing the fruit to ripen.

How do you prune a plum tree UK?

Prune in the third week of July when the young shoots have finished growing. 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.

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.

How do I prune my 3 year old plum tree?

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.

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 increase the yield of a plum tree?

Provide good irrigation and a fertilizing program appropriate for fruiting trees. Fertilizers higher in phosphorus will help with blooming and fruiting. Bone meal is a great source of phosphorus. Prune trees when young to create a strong scaffold and minimize upward growth.

Why is my plum tree not producing fruit?

Extreme cold during flowering will cause the blooms to drop too early, and a plum tree fails to bear fruit. Freezing temperatures before blooms open will also kill the flowers. Without flowers, you will have no fruit. Insects that chew the terminal ends, shoots, and flowers will also cause no fruit on plum trees.

How do you keep plum trees healthy?

How to Care for Plum Trees

  1. Be sure to water the young trees heavily every week during the first growing season to help promote growth. Then, water regularly.
  2. If rain is lacking, water your tree well into mid-October to give it plenty of moisture through the winter months.