How to proceed professionally

The best time is in autumn

A strong flow of rubber is decisive for the choice of date. Like all stone fruits, an apricot tree bleeds massively if you prune the crown in the middle of the growing season. The fruit trees are more forgiving if you prune in October or November.

As a further advantage, a leaf-free crown provides a better overview for the perfect cut. Last but not least, an autumn cutting time is in line with that Federal Nature Conservation Act, the time from 1. October to 28. February prescribes.

Cut mirabelle every 2 years

Starting with the third year of growth, you should prune your mirabelle plum tree every two years. The focus of pruning is on all four to five-year-old shoots whose earning power has been exhausted. The most valuable treasure of the fruit tree crown are the two to three year old shoots, which should not be overshadowed by dead wood or sterile wooden shoots. With this cut you can:

• Old, heavily drooping branches derive on a lower branch
• Cut back thick shoots competing with the main branches to 10 cm short cones
• Shorten dead wood, steep shoots and branches growing inside the crown to 5-10 cm

Unbranched long shoots from this season do not reveal in autumn whether they will bloom and fruit. If the twigs are more than 20 centimeters long, cut back a maximum of a third. If the growth is directed steeply upwards, tie the shoot to the horizontal. This year's shoots under 20 centimeters remain uncut.

Distinguish fertile from sterile shoots

Key to Success in Profitable Fruit tree pruning is the distinction between fertile and barren branches. The following overview summarizes the characteristics that distinguish valuable fruit wood from sterile shoots in the mirabelle plum tree:

• Barren wood shoot: only carries pointed, slender shoot buds
• Mixed branch: ideal mix of thick flower buds and narrow shoot buds
• Fruit cane: distinctive flower buds, terminal shoot bud on a branch up to 30 cm long
• Fruit skewer: 5 to 6 flower buds on the 2-5 cm short shoot, often with a single shoot bud at the end

The primary goal of the pruning is a balance between fertile and sterile branches. Ideally, both variants should be balanced within one crown. An oversupply of Fruitwood results in puny fruits. If barren wood shoots dominate, you will struggle with a low harvest yield.