Plum fruits are very popular. However, we often give up growing these trees for fear of their excessive growth. Seehow and when to prune plumsso that their growth is not too strong and abundant fruiting. How to properly performcutting the plum after plantingto properly form its crown? How to go aboutcutting old plumsthat were a bit neglected? Why is it better to cut some plums in spring and others in autumn after harvesting the fruit? Here's everything you need to know aboutcutting plum trees
Cutting the plum. How and when to prune plums to make them fruitful?
Cutting the plum after planting
Cutting the plum in the first year of cultivationis extremely important for obtaining a properly formed crown of the tree.
For the plot, we usually buy one-year-old plum trees, which may already be branched or have only a guide.The first pruning after planting is done in springIf a tree is planted in spring, cut it right after planting, and cut trees planted in autumn after wintering. The bestdate for pruning a young plum is March
In the case of branched trees,the guide should be cut 30 cm above the topmost side shoot , and all side shoots are shortened by about half. If the tree is unbranched, and such a tree can be up to 150 cm high, we shorten it to a height of 80 cm. Thanks to this, the first branches that will form the tree's crown in the future will not grow too high, which will facilitate the harvesting of fruits.
In the next 2 years after planting,form a plum crown , while trying to cut as little as possible. This is because strong pruning increases the growth rate, which then results in trees that are too tall. Thereforecutting the plum after planting in the first years of cultivation should be limited mainly to shortening the guide formed acute angles with the guide.
The method of pruning young plums also depends on the shape of the crown we want to obtainIf there is little space around the tree, it is worth leading it in the shape of a cone, with a clear guide and Mountain. The crown shaped in this way will not occupy a large area. Then,if any of the side shoots are close to the conductor, it should be cut in its entirety, preferably on a pin Cutting with a tenon consists in cutting the removed branch at a distance of a few centimeters from the guide (in the case of thick branches, old plums are left with 15-25 cm sections).Leaving plugs protects the guide against the penetration of pathogenic pathogens
And if the tree has room to grow sideways, we can affordto create a more loose, free crown, without a clear guideIn amateur crops on plots and gardens, this way of shaping plum crowns is more common.
Note!Remember that after each cut, the wounds on the branches as a result of cuts should be covered with garden ointment or emulsion paint with the addition of fungicide, e.g. Topsin M 500 SC. It is very important as plum trees are quite susceptible to wood and bark diseases.
Cutting old plums
For vigorously older plums, a translucent cut is required.In order to maintain a well-formed and not too dense crown, it is worth making such a cut every year. Duringof the shining cut of old plums , branches that grow vertically towards the center of the crown are cut, crossing each other and overly thickening the crown of the plum tree, as well as all damaged, frozen or disease-infected fruit trees. Well … but when we face such an old, perhaps a bit neglected and overgrown plum tree, where to start?
First, try to lower the height of the crown and cut the oldest 2-3 branches from its center. By cutting some of them, we will inhibit the intensive growth of the entire tree, and also improve the illumination of the crown and the setting of flower buds.
Cutting plum trees
When to prune plum trees?
The deadline for pruning the plum depends on the time of its fruiting . Older, already fruiting plum trees can be pruned in 2 dates:
- The basic term for pruning plums is early spring(from late February to late March). At this date, all plums are pruned, the fruits of which ripen on average late and late, that is from September to October. These are the following varieties: Amers, Anna Spath, Elena, Empress, President, Presenta, Hungarian ordinary, Valor.
- Another term is pruning the plums after harvestingPlums, the fruits of which ripen early and medium early, i.e. from July to August, are pruned immediately after the fruit is harvested, but not later than by mid-September so that the cutting wounds had time to heal before the first frosts. During this period, pruning varieties include: Brzoskwiniowa, Cacanska Najbolia, Herman, Kalipso, Katinka, Opal, Renkloda Ulena, Ruth Gerstetter, early Hungarian, Hungarian Wangenheim.
When choosing the date of pruning the plum, it is also worth taking into account the growth strength of the variety or rootstock on which the tree is grafted As a general rule, pruning plums after harvesting will reduce the vigor of the tree and reduce the growth rate, while pruning plums in the early spring helps to increase the growth rate. Therefore, if we have, for example, a plum grafted on a vigorously growing alech, and we do not want the tree to grow too large, it is better to trim it after harvesting. Such alimitation of the tree's wiggle will favor abundant fruiting , because the tree, instead of growing larger, will focus its energy on producing fruit.
Cutting plums in summer
"Above we have described the cut shining through the plum trees. In addition to this, in additionin the period preceding fruit ripening , i.e. in summer (from late June to mid-July),summer pruningis performed, the task of which is is to limit the growth of vertically growing shoots on bent branches. Such shoots can be broken with fingers or with a secateurs at a height of 12-15 cm. This treatment can be compared to the summer removal of the so-calledwolves on apple trees. "
Become confident in pruning fruit plants
"If you are unsure how to make a cut or are just afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School 2" ontrimming fruit trees and shrubs
This is the second part of the best-selling book "Cutting School", in which the authors Lucyna and Alicja Grabowskieexplained in a simple and clear way the secrets of cuttingornamental plants. The first book The School of Cutting for its simple language and clear, accurate drawings was loved by garden owners all over Poland.The book quickly became a bestseller- 20,000 copies sold! "
"Cutting School 2" will make youconfident in pruning fruit trees and shrubsand learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations and bear fruit abundantly. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!
