Pruning plum trees

sprunger.joel

I have a 4 year old plumb tree that is starting to get quite bushy and it's about 9-10 feet tall. I looked over the guide and it advises against winter pruning, but the summer pruning says to only cut back this season's growth and avoid cutting woody material. When should I thin this tree out?

pansyface

Why do you think it needs thinning out?

purplerallim

It does need thinning out to get air flowing through the crown. Around September time is the best, after all the summer growth but before winter chill sets in.

sprunger.joel

Well I went ahead and took off some of the growth today, but tried to keep it minimal. It's the first pruning in 4-5 years so I thought it really needed some internal growth removed. Here is how it turned out.

purplerallim

As its early to prune you may get re growth before the end of the season, but at least now you will be able to see what may need doing. Hope your fruit crop hasn't been reduced.

Dovefromabove

I understood that all prunus should be pruned at this time of year to avoid Silverleaf infection. 

sprunger.joel

I think I only lost about 4 plums. The tree looks much better. I will update if there are any issues.

purplerallim

End of summer after fruiting @Dovefromabove. As long as its before frosts or real cold it's ok.

Dovefromabove

That’s interesting @purplerallim ... RHS say earlier 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=339

😊 

purplerallim

If you do it earlier you get re growth, happened to me year before last and had to go at it again. Still ended up taller than I wanted @Dovefromabove .

Dovefromabove

You prune the regrowth back the following summer. 

It’s nothing to do with frosts ... Prunus have to be pruned in the growing season when the sap is flowing strongly and producing new growth ... this is what prevents silverleaf infection.

Pruning later when the sap isn’t flowing strongly is taking a big risk ... once your tree has silverleaf that’s it 😞