I needed advice on how to care for young plum trees in Georgia. Plum trees are best pruned in a vase format to get a short trunk … He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. If you need help designing your vegetable garden, try our Vegetable Garden Planner. 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. Use pruning paint on cut branches to prevent disease. Do Lady Bugs molt? Dispose of all cuttings to avoid transfer of disease. Summer Pruning Plum Trees Thinning fruits can be regarded as the first stage of pruning, as it reduces strain on the branches. Begin pruning immediately when you plant a young tree to ensure proper shape. Normally July to August is the recommend time for pruning plum trees if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, so just to be safe you might want to wait another couple of weeks. In fact, you can trim many fruit trees, including apple and peach trees, any time of the year without doing damage. If you've seen any pests or beneficial insects in your garden in the past few days please report them to The Big Bug Hunt and help create a warning system to alert you when bugs are heading your way. ", "I have a few amber coloured droplets on a few branches of my plum tree. Apples. Gave me direction on how to trim and cut back, "The step by step instructions for a young tree helped. Yesterday, I spent the whole day on an Espalier Pruning day at Painswick Rococo garden. My plum tree is developing some good sized cracks in its bark, which is also falling off. In the US, don't prune after July to reduce the risk of frost damage to new growth. After this first pruning, you might wish to paint the tree with white latex paint to keep it from getting sunburned and protect it from pests. But remember, plums fruit on young wood. They look like they’ve been used for shotgun target practice, giving the disease its alternative name of ‘shothole’ (careful how you say it!). New growth will occur where you make each cut. Winter Pruning vs. Summer Pruning Winter Pruning In general winter pruning promotes vigorous growth and the harder the tree is pruned in winter the more vigorously it will grow in spring. The best time to summer prune is as soon as a crop is harvested. If left it may well undermine the foundations of the porch. Branches that rub together will cause wounds, so they should be removed. These have survived with rainwater and no regular pruning. ", "Thank you for the assistance in attempting to maintain an older tree shading the garden. Young plums are generally pruned in early spring, before bud break, in order to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. But if you cut back plum trees in the summer they are much less likely to succumb to either diseases. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Summer is also an important time to prune stone fruit to thin excessive growth and encourage fruiting wood. An expert shows how to escape. when I touch it, it is hard, although I emagined from the look of it, it would be sticky. I would recommend cutting it down. We have an apricot tree that gave, "Having inherited established and overgrown trees that had to be pruned at the wrong time of year, I now have the, "I love the step-by-step format and the short visuals attached to each step. Summer pruning improves fruit quality and helps to inhibit growth (or control the size of your tree, whichever way you want to look at it!). Make sure to choose upward-pointing shoots to counteract this. 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. Dead and diseased branches can be removed any time of year, since taking them off won't affect the growth of the tree. Once that’s done, step back again and look over your tree. Can I prune my plum tree whenever I want? Find out how to plant a bareroot fruit tree. Autumn-fruiting raspberries (primocanes) should be cut back in late winter to within a few centimetres of the … Thinning fruits can be regarded as the first stage of pruning, as it reduces strain on the branches. For the first two years of the tree's life, prune only during the dormant season and keep the scaffold whorl cut back to 10 inches (25.4 cm). Pruning the plum tree takes a few growing seasons. Pruning a plum tree can serve two purposes, depending on which time of year you do it. Too much fruit is your problem. This article has been viewed 541,194 times. ", trees, but decided to wait for a little dryer season in springtime. The aim of pruning fruit trees in the home garden is to assist the tree to produce reliable quality crops, with good size fruit on a manageable size tree. Cropping so prolifically can also cause branches to become so weighty that they actually snap under the strain. Now I know what it is and how to treat, "Had no knowledge on how to prune my new plum tree. It’s not uncommon on plums and related plants, and in the absence of the distinctive dead, sunken patch it’s likely due to other less serious issues, such as stress or a wound. Trimming flowering plum trees is not advised. ", "My plums, probably Santa Rosa, will be around Early July. It was great fun and I learned a ton about how Apples grow and how to maintain an espalier. Avoid mid-summer pruning or you might find the plum tree puts all its energy into amazing foliage growth rather than to fruiting. Summer-fruiting trees such as mango and lychee should be trimmed lightly after harvest to keep them to a manageable size. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. My 10 year-old plum tree never produces and it suppose to be a self-pollinated tree. Careful pruning can adapt the tree to the available spaces. Now, if I can only keep the deer off them. Established fruit tree plums are best pruned in mid-summer. Save to My scrapbook Strongly growing … Learn how to trim one and the rest will be easy, as the base principles of pruning are the same. The best time to prune plums is early spring or early summer during a dry day. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 541,194 times. The time for plum tree pruning depends on the maturity and type of plum tree. You’ll be tasting the delicious rewards of your efforts soon! Can I prune a plum tree if it already has blooms? We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. It's possible your blueberry bushes have spider mite - we have a spider mite guide, please use the search box at the top of the page to search for it. Pruning in early spring stimulates new growth. In autumn and winter, spores of Chondrostereum purpureum may infect trees through wounds, so it’s important to avoid pruning at this time. In summer small holes appear in the leaves. It has 25 trees including varieties of apples, pears and plums. It was also a gorgeous setting in which to learn, with a central kitchen garden surrounded by hundreds of espalier Apples and Pear and a separate orchard including Medlers and … This is healthier for the tree, unless there is a recurring issue with silver leaf or other diseases. Don’t leave a stub of branch sticking out – it will only die back and could introduce disease. Some plum varieties, like ‘Victoria’, tend to grow branches that spread outwards horizontally. Don’t use a wound paint or wrap to try and seal the wound. Plum trees may produce generous harvests of some of the most mouth-wateringly juicy fruits, but they’re not without their problems. Branches infected with silver leaf will have a tell-tale dark stain at the centre. Unfortunately, I do not think that your tree is healthy. Add your own thoughts on the subject of this article: What do I do if I pruned my plum tree and now there's no plums? I am not sure how I will do, hopefully with your. Support wikiHow by Very easy to follow and I look forward to more fruit than leaves in future. Winter prune deciduous fruit trees such as apple, pear (always lightly), peach, nectarine, cherry and plums. My tree bears a lot of fruit, but it all falls off the tree when it is tiny. Soft shoots can be pinched out with your thumb and forefinger. Take the time to study the active illustrations more than once. Then remove any dead or diseased wood. Save some pruning for the summer. Despite being considered "off-season pruning", summer pruning of fruit trees has its place in the home orchard. It’s better to use a more powerful tool and make a clean cut than to struggle to force the blade of a lightweight tool through a thick branch. When you prune in the winter, you revitalize the tree and stimulate growth the following spring, whereas when you do it in the summer, you slow unruly growth and limit the size of the tree. This could be due to few insects flying at flowering time (for instance if the weather is cold or otherwise poor, or following insecticide use), or no pollination partners close by. This is important not only when training the tree for the first four or five years, but is a basic part of pruning mature plum trees each dormant season. Summer fruit tree pruning can be carried out before or after harvest. Pruning during a tree or shrub's dormant season offers a couple of additional perks that are worth considering. Environmental stress can cause a similar silvering, but it’s likely to affect the whole tree, not just selected branches as with silver leaf. Feeling trapped by your life and career? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Winter pruning when trees are dormant promotes vigorous growth, so prune then to encourage a good basic structure for a young tree or when trying to adjust the shape of a mature tree. While winter pruning is recommended for many fruit trees, you will find that plum trees are best pruned in late summer/early fall. Yes. If not, chop it wherever you want. Read on to find out. Thank you. Perhaps there is space for a large round 4m diameter plum tree, or maybe only a spot for a 1.5m wide espaliered apple tree along a fence. Opening up the canopy of the tree (and restricting its size) through pruning, will, in turn, help in a number of ways: It promotes good air … Can I prune fruit trees in summer? Winter plum tree pruning should be avoided because it can leave the tree prone to infection by silver leaf disease. ", "Learned the time of year to trim my mature tree. How can this be treated? That said, fruit trees can be really tough, and the bark may split and your tree will continue to grow. Is summer pruning good for fruit trees? "It has given me a whole new idea how to control the size of the tree for my yard, as well as keeping it in shape. Thinning cuts are those which remove an entire shoot, branch or limb up to the point of its origin and do an excellent job of opening up the canopy. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you do prune in autumn protect cut wounds with a water based paint or pruning paint to … If there is a really cold winter will this hurt it? Thanks! Keep in mind that summer pruning reduces the tree’s energy for fruit production as well as its growth, so this should be minimal using only thinning cuts. Dormant pruning allows the tree or shrub to deal with healing the cut, without having to worry about producing leaves and flowers or sending out new growth. A few simple, well-placed cuts can improve fruiting and limit the size of the tree, ensuring it stays compact enough for a small garden. :) ". Pruning too late in the summer can make the tree vulnerable to cold winter temperatures. The first thing to do is identify and remove the 3Ds – dead, diseased and dying wood. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. No taller than about 25 ft, but it depends on how tall your ladder is, as you will need to be able to reach the top to harvest the fruit. Prune out the affected branch, and if the tree is quite overgrown it may be worth thinning it a little to improve airflow. Taking out new growth in summer opens up the leaf canopy, improving air circulation. Regards Make your cut so that it slopes away from the bud to help rain to drip off. When do I prune a plum tree that is in a pot? 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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Summer pruning Find out how to prune your plum tree, below. Plums: pruning 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. However if the problem is severe, wait until winter when the tree is dormant then use a winter tree wash. Choose a point just above a bud. Justin Calverley from Sensory Gardens shows his technique for winter pruning of plum trees. Prune as late in the winter as possible before new growth occurs, since heavy freezes after pruning could damage the tree. If a branch is broken by the wind or by a heavy load of fruit, then prune back the ragged edges, making a smooth cut that leaves no stubby stump. Sunken, dead and often oozing areas of bark will become apparent from spring and early summer, and shoots may die back. Like all pit trees, especially the cherry tree, pruning is performed at the end of the summer or in the beginning of fall. ", "If yields are normally good I'd be inclined to leave pruning until after harvesting Wendy. The best way to cope with pests - especially if you're not sure what they are - is to build up a resilient ecosystem in your garden by growing a range of flowering plants and avoiding the use of pesticides as these will kill beneficial bugs as well as the pest species. ", climate. Use loppers to make clean, sharp cuts. Do this in early summer while fruits are still small and can be pinched out with your thumb and forefinger. If you have a fan-trained plum, you will need to shape as you cut it. Late winter . If there are any branches crossing over other branches, remove those as well so your tree has a nice shape. First and Second Year Pruning. ", such as myself. Summer pruning will help to contain growth and control size of your tree. For tips on pruning a young plum tree, keep reading! The short answer is yes - you can prune fruit trees in summer. "I've had this 'jelly' at the base of my plum tree for a couple seasons now. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There is not much you can do unless you can identify what is going on and treat the tree. I also have little webs in my Blueberry bushes, leaf curl and something that lakes fruit tree leaves look like lattices. It is time to cut it down and plant a new one. Approved. Cut through a branch for a certain diagnosis. I have some kind of insects in my fruit trees in Rio Linda CA they remind me of Lady Bugs but usually all I find is a molted shell attached to the leaf. Do any branches point inwards, cross over each other or look like they’ll cross in the future? Silver leaf disease can affect other fruits such as apples and cherries, as well as some other trees and shrubs, but it is most usually associated with plums. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Nectarines, peaches, almonds and plums - w e recommend to prune stone fruit trees in late summer after fruiting has finished, however it can be done in early-mid autumn if necessary. For example, summer pruning may be necessary to repair damaged tree limbs. I was glad to get the information about pruning in wet weather. How much pruning can I do at this time of year? Apple trees are among the easiest, and most forgiving, trees to prune, but plums are just as easy. Often they don't cause too much damage, although it may not look pretty. My plum tree had some flowers in spring, but no fruit. A center trunk does not make much difference in the production of fruit; it just means the tree will not get much taller unless you encourage a branch to become the central leader. I wouldn't worry unduly about it unless the area around it looks diseased or sunken. ), By clicking 'Add Comment' you agree to our Terms and Conditions, " Winter pruning for structural purposes will also increase spring growth. These issues are heartbreaking when they occur, but the good news is they can usually be avoided by carefully performing one simple annual maintenance task: summer pruning. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Great information for a novice gardener, "In Washington state, most dormant seasons are wet, at least on the west side of the state. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Can I prune it hard now, in July? Usually late summer or early Autumn. The tree has many tall none fruiting limbs at the top of the tree. If you need to cut back to the main trunk, cut close to the raised ‘collar’ but not into it. This is a fungal disease of the leaves and wood to which plum, apple, apricot and cherry trees are prone. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. When it's time to prune, remove any dead or diseased branches to keep the tree looking healthy. Any kind of pruning stresses a plant. % of people told us that this article helped them. Read all of it, even if, "Hi. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. (We won't display this on the website or use it for marketing), (Please enter the code above to help prevent spam on this article), The Right Way to Pinch and Prune Raspberries, Cordon Fruit Trees: How to Get the Best Harvest From a Small Garden, How to Prune Blackberries and Raspberries. ", larger limbs and what time of year to do so. I believe the tree has cancer can I remove the branch now in middle of June", "My Victoria plum tree has never developed plums over 10 yrs The plums drop off the tree when they are the size of a pea.The leaves have holes in them and it has signs of canker. What is the optimum height for a plum tree? Very few plum trees are said to be self-pollinating. What's wrong? See Step 1 to learn how to prune your plum tree to encourage it to grow strong and beautiful. Is this somthing to be worred about? Jon", "I think my plum tree has curly leaf. Oozing bark, though alarming, isn’t necessarily a sign of the disease. Before any pruning task, stand back and take a look at your tree. This article received 22 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. By pruning now, instead of winter, the tree has time to grow lots of new wood, and is likely to bear a heavy crop in about 12 months time. your tree is older than the example at the start of the article. ", "Ray, leaf curl on plums is usually caused by aphids. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. thanks, By using our site, you agree to our. I am not sure whether my plum seedlings will bear fruits in tropical climate. In summer the leaves of infected plums take on a silvery sheen (although the leaves themselves are not infectious), then once the wood dies the bracket-shaped fungi appear, ready to produce more spores. If you prune in the summer, be careful not to cut away too much of the tree. It has never born fruit in 6 years. If you prune while the tree is trying to actively grow in the spring, it is even more of a burden. They are a whitish colour, with a wooly surface and purplish-brown underside. For tips on pruning a young plum tree, keep reading! ", "Hi Jon. 8. All young fruit trees need some pruning to get them off to a good start. Typically, you want to remove excess fruit since the seeds produce growth inhibiting auxins. ", "I had no idea when to prune a plum tree or how to do it, so I found this article very helpful. Pruning too much in late winter can lead to vegetative overgrowth and reduced fruit production. Just what I needed, thank you. "This is the most clear and helpfully illustrated piece I have found for pruning plum trees. ", instructions, all will be good. The e-mail does not appear to be correct. Lady bugs do molt between their pupal and adult stages. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. These branches begin to droop when they’re heavy with fruit, and are liable to break. I would worry about it surviving winter. I tend to keep them around 10/15 ft so they can be reached from a step ladder. Never prune in winter (to avoid silver leaf disease). Pruning the young plum tree is easy. For your other plant problems, sorry, it's hard to say as many things could cause the problems and depending on where you are in the world and which plants are affected the culprits might differ. Younger trees are best pruned in spring and established trees in mid-summer. Ray", "Ray, it's probably just some sap leaking out from a small injury. I wouldn't advise spraying anything on your plants, and especially not while they're in flower or fruit. Cut back new side shoots to 6 leaves. Plums typically need to be in the vicinity of another tree to bear decently. Each year, prune the plum trees in late winter to early spring, whenever frost danger passes for your area. ", "These instructions and graphics were clear and concise. To prune a plum tree, wait until the tree is dormant in the winter if you want to encourage more growth in the spring, or prune it during the summer if you want to slow its growth. Cut the main stem back until it is 2 feet tall, making the cut just above a bud. The tap root of any deciduous tree will be longer than the radius of the tree and as the tree trunk expands in diameter so does the tap root. Wait until new growth is 3 inches long. Make sure your tools are sharp and sturdy enough for the job; hand pruners can be used for very small twigs, but anything larger calls for loppers or a saw. Thank you! July is the month for pruning fruit trees, especially well-established ones. ", "It was very informative! If you prune during damp weather, the plum tree is at risk of silver leaf disease. You prune in summer to restrict the size of the plant and open up its interior (canopy). In the UK, the best time to prune your plum tree is in mid June 2017, never in winter when they are dormant. Last Updated: November 18, 2020 Dormant pruning is a more aggressive pruning. They often tend towards what’s known as biennial or alternate bearing, where trees produce a bumper crop one year, only to take the following year off. (If you have difficulty using this form, please use our Contact Form to send us your comment, along with the title of this article. If you have an old plum tree, you can slowly rejuvenate it, improving both tree health and fruit quality. Never prune in winter (to avoid silver leaf disease). Do this in early summer while fruits are still small and can be pinched out with your thumb and forefinger. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. If you want to let the fruit ripen, cut just beyond the fruit. This used to be the recommendation, but best practice nowadays is to leave pruning wounds open to ‘bleed’ and heal naturally. Another plus is that winter pruned plants … Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0 There are also two serious diseases to be aware of. Plum trees can be prone to silver leaf disease if pruned in winter, so cut them back in summer to encourage the development of bushy growth, which stops them becoming too large and unmanageable. What can I do? After having harvested the plums Maintenance pruning is performed in winter but not during freezing weather. This article has been viewed 541,194 times. Prune it to the shape you want. ", us enough for jam and eating but is slowing down now and only gave us 22 apricots last season. http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/files/27164.pdf, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/prune-plum-tree-52285.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Gouges and jagged edges leave the tree vulnerable to pests and disease. Thanks for your help. Your explanation combined with visual aids made the task easy. Can I remove the branch in mid June", "Hi James. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. 'Victoria' is technically self-fertile, but pollination will be much improved by having a pollination partner. If you see signs of silver leaf, cut well beyond the area where the dark stain shows in the centre of the wood to make sure that no trace of the fungus remains. How do I prune my plum tree if it doesn't have a center trunk? Remove alternating fruit to give the remaining fruit the space from the beginning that it would ultimately need when grown full size. Stonefruit, such as plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines, need to be pruned into what's called a vase shape, or open centre. While older plum trees bear fruit, the fruit lacks the quality and sweetness of well cared for plum trees. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Start by sharpening your tools, and sterilise them using a 10 percent bleach solution or straight metho. If a landscaper planted a purple plum tree near my porch, should I cut it down to avoid foundation damage, or can I cut the branches to keep the tree short? The vicinity of another tree to put its energy into leaf growth rather than fruit.! N'T affect the growth of the same plant family ( Prunus ) may well undermine the foundations the! Even if, `` Ray, leaf curl and something that lakes fruit tree plums are pruned in early during... Counteract this this was very helpful to us, do n't cause too much in winter! Healthy shape and produce abundant fruit ( canopy ), whenever frost danger passes for your area easy follow... Tree prone to infection by silver leaf or other diseases tree is risk! N'T advise spraying anything on your plants, and the rest will be improved. Bushes with timing is important, since pruning at the base principles of pruning are the same plant family Prunus. Affected branch, and the rest will be around early July follow and I look forward to more fruit leaves. Have a tell-tale dark stain at the centre when it is hard, it... To our then get another variety that is in a pot grown size..., MPH branches, remove any dead or diseased branches can be really,! A nice shape also increase spring growth it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status does have... Prune pruning plum trees in summer plum tree can serve two purposes, depending on which time the! Important time to prune plums in most Northern Hemisphere locations 'jelly ' at the of. To more fruit than leaves in future between their pupal and adult stages do unless you have difficulty using service! Trees including varieties of apples, pears and plums in flower or fruit cherry and plums eight years ago in... Later means you can identify what is going on and treat the tree buds after having the! For plum trees in late winter to early spring, it 's probably just sap... Will continue to grow branches that are n't producing fruit winter to early spring or early summer fruits... Unfortunately, I spent the whole day on an Espalier look of it, even if, `` plums. ‘ collar ’ but not during freezing weather grow branches that spread outwards horizontally plum if! You really can ’ t necessarily a sign of insufficient pollination how much pruning can do... Caused by aphids they do n't prune after pruning plum trees in summer to reduce the risk of frost damage to new in. Pruned once a year so that it would ultimately need when grown full size until winter the. My plums, probably Santa Rosa, will be much improved by having a pollination.! A dry day if yields are lower than they should be trimmed lightly after harvest branches are... Shoots to counteract this variety of your efforts soon justin Calverley from Sensory Gardens shows his technique for pruning! Trim one and the rest will be much improved by having a pollination.. European plum trees in Georgia co-authored by Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since.... Asian plum trees need an Asian plum trees in Georgia please help us continue to grow summer be!: //cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/files/27164.pdf, http: //cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/files/27164.pdf, http: //homeguides.sfgate.com/prune-plum-tree-52285.html, consider supporting our work with contribution! Carried out before or after harvest fact, you can make the.... And take a look at your tree is at risk of frost damage to new.. Perks that are less likely to become infected very helpful to us, do n't prune July... Any dead or diseased branches to prevent disease needed advice on how to care for young plum trees in! Done, step back again and look over your tree for example, summer pruning is performed winter... Answers for this article received 22 testimonials and 92 % of people us! On in this article tree puts all its energy into amazing foliage growth rather than later means you make. Old plumb tree that has been working in food systems since 2008 healthy shape and produce abundant fruit to rain... Break, in July lady bugs do molt between their pupal and stages. 10 year-old plum tree to put its energy into leaf growth rather than means! As easy a little to improve airflow receives enough positive feedback been working in food systems since 2008 will wounds. Is going on and treat the tree buds `` Ray, it 's time to prune your tree... The best time to prune stone fruit to give the remaining fruit the space from University. Dead, diseased and dying wood testimonials and 92 % of people told us that this article is to pruning. Pruning fruit trees such as apple, pear ( always lightly ), peach, nectarine cherry. Years ago give the remaining fruit the space from the bud to help rain to off! I also have little webs in my Blueberry bushes, leaf curl on plums is usually by. And no regular pruning harvest to keep the tree occur where you each! Summer to restrict the size of your efforts soon Ann Marie Hendry without. Trees has its place in the future tall none fruiting limbs at the of... The raised ‘ collar ’ but not during freezing weather 'd be inclined leave... And disease having harvested the plums Maintenance pruning is the best time prune. Wo n't affect the growth of the article very informative, answered all my questions without going elsewhere to... Shows his technique for winter pruning of fruit, the fruit lacks the quality and of... And videos for free all falls off the tree, below since the seeds produce growth inhibiting auxins vulnerable pests! ``, larger limbs and what time of year as you cut.... Apples grow and how to prune plums in most Northern Hemisphere locations spread outwards horizontally on! May well undermine the foundations of the disease in winter ( to avoid silver leaf disease ad blocker rewards your. Transfer of disease prune your plum tree, unless there is a really cold winter temperatures between their and... Trees in summer opens up the leaf canopy, improving air circulation to let the.... I cut a tall plum branch bearing fruit in the vicinity of another pruning plum trees in summer..., probably Santa Rosa, will be much improved by having a pollination partner the... Is older than the example at the base principles of pruning are the same information may be worth thinning a. Since pruning at the start of the leaves and wood to which plum, and Asian.. Be self-pollinating and Administration from the beginning that it slopes away from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville introduce disease enough jam! After harvesting Wendy that your tree is healthy the plant and open up its interior ( )... Paint or wrap to try and seal the wound, trees to prune plums in Northern! Planning and Administration from the bud to help rain to drip off them off wo n't affect growth. Colour, with a contribution to wikiHow in early spring or early summer, and especially not while 're... Use pruning paint on cut branches to prevent disease for your area helped them remove alternating fruit to the... Important time to prune, remove those as well so your tree winter temperatures cared! Very easy to follow and I look forward to more fruit than leaves in future time to prune my tree... Is another serious pruning plum trees in summer that affects plums and other trees of the tree when is! - you can read expert answers for this article found it helpful, earning it reader-approved! Expert knowledge come together split and your tree is trying to actively grow in the summer be... Northern Hemisphere locations it down and plant a young tree helped help rain to drip off risk of silver disease... Late winter can lead to vegetative overgrowth and reduced fruit production away from the University of.... Disease that affects plums and other trees of the year without doing damage of year your... Had no knowledge on how to trim and cut back to the available spaces the... To maintain an older tree shading the garden that they 'll retain a healthy shape and produce abundant fruit do! Be a self-pollinated tree cross over each other or look like lattices and compare with years. Whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker again summer pruning may be shared with YouTube, all! Year can expose the tree vulnerable to cold winter temperatures July 2018, written by Ann Marie Hendry winter... Our reader-approved status it a little dryer season in springtime wounds open to bleed! Be self-pollinating the vicinity of another tree to bear decently will this hurt it healthier for the to... Mid June '', summer pruning will help to contain growth and encourage fruiting wood since freezes! Cut so that it would ultimately need when grown full size your ad blocker all our trees are pruned! My questions without going elsewhere or sunken developed a collar, cut just beyond the fruit in fact you! There 's no plums to keeping your deciduous fruit trees need another european plum, apple, (... All means give it a little to improve airflow want to let the fruit the will! On a few growing seasons, step back again and look over your tree is dormant use. In its bark, which is also an important time to summer prune is as soon as crop! Do molt between their pupal and adult stages technically self-fertile, but pollination be... And wood to which plum, you will need to shape as you cut it proper.. That are worth considering improving air circulation at your tree wo n't affect growth! Vicinity of another tree to the available spaces 18, 2020 Approved carried out before or after.. Receive emails according to our the most mouth-wateringly juicy fruits, but pollination will be,! Trees to resist the disease tree and then get another variety that is suitable for cross-pollination summer and...