When is the best time to prune plum trees?

Plum Tree Overview

The plum tree, also known as cherry plum, is a common fruit tree that can reach a height of 8 meters. It is afraid of saline-alkali and waterlogging, and prefers a warm, humid and sunny environment. It is suitable for planting in sandy loam with good drainage. It is mostly propagated by grafting with beech as the rootstock, and it can also be propagated by cuttings.

Plum tree pruning time

Although plum trees can be pruned all year round, it is generally not recommended to do this work in spring and autumn. The best time is still in summer and winter.

During these two seasons, pruning is mainly done in the summer from June to July, while in the winter around December only some simple pruning is done as an auxiliary. When pruning, you must choose sunny weather and also choose to do it in the morning after the dew has dried up, so as to minimize the chance of infection with pests and diseases.

How to prune a plum tree

When new buds grow on the plum tree in spring, the dense buds on the outer edge of the crown can be pruned away. Later in early summer and winter, the main focus is on thinning out the dense branches. For vigorously growing branches and long fruit branches, do not prune them. Let them grow slowly and they will become bouquet-shaped branches or short fruit branches. For branches that have been bearing fruit for 3-5 years, only the hidden buds at the base are left, and the rest are thinned out.

Tips for Pruning Plum Trees

Plum trees grow vigorously, so pruning is needed to reduce nutrient consumption. Proper pruning can increase ventilation, reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests, and improve fruit quality to achieve the goals of high, stable, high-quality, and long-term effects. After each pruning, they need to be maintained in semi-shaded place and not watered, otherwise it will cause rot of the wounds.