Pruning the plum tree: when and how to do it

When should you cut back plums? How do you go about pruning plum trees? We give tips on the right time and pruning for young and old plum trees.

Anyone who believes that a plum (Prunus domestica subsp. domestica) just another, region-dependent name for the plum (Prunus domestica) be who is wrong. Because the plum - also called plum, Prüm or Quetsche depending on the region - is actually a subspecies of the plum. A closer look reveals small differences: the damson is smaller than the plum and has an elongated, oval shape. Both fruits also differ in taste, so the plum is considered more acidic and is said to be better suited for baking. But is there also a difference in the care of plum and plum trees? Here you can find out what to look out for when pruning the plum tree and how to proceed best.

When should you prune plum trees?

Like almost all fruit trees, the plum can be pruned both in summer and in winter. Both cuts differ significantly from each other and are therefore divided as follows.

winter pruning

• November – March
• On frost-free days
• Advantage: Easier assessment in the leafless state
• Encourages growth and branching

summer cut

• Late June - August
• Slows growth, reduces new shoots and growth in length

In addition, the age and stage of development of the tree also have an influence on the choice of pruning. Depending on the stage in which the tree is, a distinction is also made between the training cut, the maintenance cut and the rejuvenation cut. The following applies to all cutting measures: In frost, continuous rain or heat, it is better not to use scissors than existing ones Moisture at interfaces increases the risk of diseases and strong sunlight increases the risk of dehydration. Since plum trees do not tolerate large wounds, they should not be cut back ruthlessly, but rather receive an annual care cut.

Pruning plum trees correctly: instructions

Pruning a plum tree makes sense because regular care increases the yield as well as the quality, size and storability of the fruit. In addition, the lifespan of the tree is extended and it becomes less susceptible to diseases and pests. Plums naturally grow upright and with a narrow crown. The aim of the pruning measures is to grow a full-crowned and wide tree. Here plum trees according to the same rules as plum trees pruned.

The pruning of the plum tree

Already in the first years of life a pruning for the plum tree is inevitable. The plum tree is therefore pruned when it is planted. The following applies: If the plum is planted in spring, the planting cut takes place immediately. On the other hand, if the young tree is planted in late autumn, it will get one the following spring. The pruning brings shape to the crown of the plum and promotes budding.

To do this, three to four shoots are selected, which grow distributed around the trunk - the shoots should develop into the main branches of the plum. These form the basic structure of the later crown, because side branches and fruit trees are arranged on them. Since they remain in the plum tree for its entire lifetime, special attention is paid to them when pruning. All shoots that grow vertically upwards in the vicinity of the central shoot are cut off directly at the trunk, and the length of the remaining leading shoots is reduced by a third. Here the cut is made behind a bud of the branch facing away from the tree so that the buds of the main branches develop into fruiting wood. After shortening, all leading branches should be about the same length. The central shoot is also shortened, but it should still be able to surpass the leading shoots by ten centimetres.

Tip: The selected leading shoots are often not ideally positioned in relation to the central shoot. However, their alignment can be corrected by using spacers or by tying them down with a cord. The perfect leading branch is at about a 45 degree angle to the trunk.

Pruning young plum trees: the educational cut

In the following five to nine years, the training pruning ensures that the plum tree develops a pyramid-shaped crown that is permeable to light and air. The cutting work is carried out in February to March. The training cut consists of the following three main steps:

1. Determine side branches: Branches growing outwards on the side and underside of the main branches are desired, because these will later bear fruit. On each leading branch, choose three of these side branches. They should stand alternately to the left and right of the branch and have plenty of space in the direction of growth. The remaining shoots on the side branch that grow steeply up or down or compete with the side branches are removed or diverted to younger shoots. Deriving means that the steeper shoot is cut off at a branch fork. The flatter shoot remains standing so that the tip of the branch runs horizontally.

2. Avoid competition: You should also remove branches that compete with the central shoot or the leading branches. It is also important that the leading branches do not compete with the central shoot for light and air. For this reason, leading branches that are particularly long and have grown upwards are shortened to a bud protruding outwards.

3. Lighten the crown: Any branches that grow steeply inward of the crown or toward the trunk of the tree should be removed. Branches that grow out of the tree flat or horizontally and do not compete with the leaders or the central shoot can be left and will be examined again next year.

Pruning old plum trees: the maintenance and rejuvenation pruning

If the plum tree has developed a beautiful crown and shows itself in all its splendour, it is important to to preserve the shape of the crown through pruning measures in subsequent years and to increase the fruit development raise. When pruning for maintenance, particular care is taken to ensure that the crown of the tree does not become too dense - diseased, dead, inward-growing or steeply upward-growing branches are therefore removed. Old branches can also be cut out if you notice that they are only bearing little fruit.

However, the radical pruning of an old plum tree is not recommended: On the one hand removing old branches leaves large wounds that leave the tree vulnerable to fungal or pest infestation do. On the other hand, plum trees mainly bear fruit on perennial branches, so that after a radical pruning, it can take several years before the plum tree bears as many fruits as it does before. If an old plum tree still needs intensive pruning due to missing pruning for years For rejuvenation pruning, only branches up to two inches in diameter should be removed will. Branches that are particularly dry or too dense are cut off, but the selected main branches can also be shortened. Cut back side branches and old fruiting wood so that the crown is set back by a quarter.

After the pruning, the tree will sprout again and form young fruit wood. However, you should not proceed too harshly: It is often worthwhile to slowly reintroduce the tree through annual maintenance cuts shape rather than pruning it back radically, as the delicate plum trees do better with this type of pruning cope.

Cut columnar plum tree

columnar fruit is extremely popular with many gardeners because it can also be cultivated well in smaller gardens. A columnar plum tree is particularly space-saving and is therefore also suitable for a less spacious location. Regular pruning is recommended so that the columnar fruit retains its slender shape over time. The aim of the columnar tree pruning is to preserve the classic columnar shape so that the tree remains young and vital. The columnar plum tree should be pruned annually because it does not tolerate large pruning measures. The following steps are necessary:

1. Shorten side shoots: First, the side shoots growing laterally from the plum or plum tree column are shortened to 20 to 40 centimeters. These branch out further and form fruit buds. The best time for this work is early summer.

2. Shorten the center drive: The columnar plum tree should also be limited in height. To do this, the central shoot is shortened: the cut is made in June to slow down growth. It is also done at a height of about 80 centimeters on the middle shoot, so that the growth of the supporting side shoots is stimulated. The top branches are also cut back to two or three buds. The shortening can be increased by 50 centimeters every year until the column has reached the final height you want.

Tip: If you want to carry out larger pruning measures, you should cut in winter.

Plum tree care after pruning

Every cut means stress for the plum tree, because cutting measures cause small wounds. Since the cutting points greatly increase the risk of disease or pest infestation, caring for the plum tree after pruning is particularly important. In the days after pruning, the tree should therefore be checked regularly for signs of disease. In addition, it is often recommended to seal cuts from a diameter of three centimeters with a wound tree wax from the specialist trade. In practice, however, opinions differ as to whether coating with wax actually supports the ingrowth process or whether the tree will heal better without treatment.

Do you have other fruit trees in your garden? Then this article will guide you on how to Properly prune fruit trees.