How to prune plum blossoms

By species  

Plum blossom is an ornamental tree species with many varieties, and different varieties have different flowering habits and sprouting and branching abilities. During the pruning process, different pruning methods should be used for different varieties. For varieties that mainly bloom with short flower branches, such as 'Golden Money Green Calyx' and 'White White Pavilion', light pruning and slow release measures should be adopted. It is important to avoid the formation of a large number of long branches due to heavy pruning, which will waste nutrients unnecessarily and affect the number, quality and effect of flowers.

For varieties that mainly produce flowers on long branches, such as 'Dancing Cinnabar' and 'Tiaoxue Chuizhi', heavy pruning is required to promote the sprouting of medium and long branches.     The germination and branching ability of plum blossoms also varies depending on the type of variety. True plum varieties have strong branching ability, so they can be appropriately pruned heavily. Apricot varieties such as 'Fenghou' and 'Danfenghou' have weak sprouting and branching abilities, so leave more one-year-old branches and prune them appropriately, and avoid heavy pruning as much as possible, otherwise the tree will not be able to recover within a few years.      

By tree age  

The plum tree is a long-lived tree species that can live hundreds or even thousands of years. The growth trends in different growth periods are different, and the purposes and technical requirements for pruning are also different.  

Young trees grow vigorously, so pruning should be done with the goal of expanding the crown, easing the tree's vigor and promoting early flowering, so light pruning is appropriate.

The growth of mature tree branches slows down and they bloom profusely. When pruning, it is necessary to resolve the contradiction between growth and flowering, balance the tree vigor, improve ventilation and light conditions, and maintain a good tree shape. Therefore, pruning should be increased year by year, and the main branches should be cut back and renewed in time.  

The pruning of aging trees is mainly to ensure trunk renewal, and the main purpose of pruning at this time is to rejuvenate the crown. When pruning, promptly re-prune old, dry branches, and avoid cutting off newly sprouted one-year-old branches; instead, keep them so that they can re-develop into main branches. At the same time, timely strengthen water and fertilizer management, inter-row cultivation and weeding, and disease and pest control work for aging trees to enable the trees to recover faster.     

Growth trend  

Due to the influence of site conditions, soil environment and other factors, the growth conditions of plum blossoms of the same variety and the same age are not exactly the same. Vigorously growing trees should be pruned lightly to remove overgrown branches and inner branches to increase ventilation and light transmission, so as to ensure the beauty of the tree's vigor and shape; weakly growing trees should be pruned heavily, the main purpose of which is to ensure subsequent growth and allow them to sprout new branches. In short, you must master the principle of light pruning for strong areas and heavy pruning for weak areas.   

Potted plants and ground plants  

The plum blossom is a small deciduous tree that can be used as an ornamental tree in the garden or placed in a pot to make a plum bonsai. There is a world of difference between the two forms of pruning, so be careful not to treat them the same.  

The pruning of plum blossoms planted in the garden is much more extensive than that of plum bonsai. It is based on the natural growth of trees, with the purpose of making the tree crown strong, the tree shape beautiful, and the flowering dense. The principle of pruning is followed to promote the growth of trees.  

Plum bonsai is the process of cultivating plum blossoms into the desired ornamental shape and posture through pruning. In addition to general pruning methods, pruning techniques also include coiling, climbing, folding, tearing, and carving.      

season

Plum blossom pruning pays great attention to seasonality, especially in early spring after the plum blossoms bloom, which consumes a lot of nutrients. At this time, the plum blossoms need to be pruned immediately. Do not wait until they sprout and branch out before pruning, otherwise it will affect the growth of the year and weaken the tree. Sometimes winter pruning is also required to ensure the quantity and quality of plum blossoms. You can't just cut more when you have time and manpower, and then not cut at all when you don't have time and manpower.

In addition, it is best to prune the plum trees moderately before planting new plum trees. Because the root system of newly planted plum trees is damaged and their ability to absorb nutrients is weak, if too many branches are left, the supply of nutrients and water cannot keep up, and the normal growth of the plum trees will be affected. At the very least, the tree will weaken, and at worst, it may lead to death.  

When to prune

The pruning of plum blossoms needs to be repeated and persistent, rather than a one-time job. It is important not to ignore it for a few years after a heavy pruning and let it grow unpredictable. Otherwise, the plum tree will be damaged, the flowers will be sparse or even no flowers to appreciate, and it will become a weedy tree with no ornamental value.

The growth trend of plum blossoms changes according to annual climate and environmental changes and different levels of daily management. The pruning plan should be determined based on the growth conditions of the year to ensure that each tree has a good shape and blooms profusely the following year.