How to prune a plum tree in summer: diagram and instructions for beginners

Plum tree care should continue during the summer. However, it's important to know how to prune after harvest. In other words, familiarize yourself with the procedure. This video will help novice gardeners understand how to prune plum trees in the summer.

Timing of summer pruning of plums

When it comes to timing summer plum pruning, it's important to consider weather conditions, the climate of the region where the tree grows, and its age and condition. For example, in Siberia, the Urals, and central Russia, the procedure is performed both in summer and spring. If pruning is done in the fall, the cuts won't heal before the cold weather sets in, so severe frosts can kill the tree. In southern Russia, it's best to remove unwanted branches in August or early September. In the Moscow region, the ideal time is July.

Pruning young plum trees should be done from early to mid-summer. Gardeners begin shaping the young trees approximately three weeks before flowering. This approach promotes improved tree growth.

In summer, dense crowns are easily visible, making pruning much easier. It's easy to see where there are more unnecessary branches or young shoots that need to be removed. However, it's important to remember that this procedure should only be performed on a two-year-old plum tree.

Which branches to pinch and which to trim

The decision to prune a tree is made with one goal in mind: to prevent it from growing too tall. If growth over the past 12 months has been about 0.5 m, the procedure can be postponed. Diseased, dead, or frozen branches can be pruned. If growth is weak, a small rejuvenation procedure is necessary. This involves pruning the nearest branches that have appeared on the sides.

Pinching

The first pinch is done on the young tops, which already have 4-5 leaves, at a depth of approximately 15 cm. Pinching is done with fingernails, but if a large portion of the shoot needs to be removed, pruning shears are essential. After this, the plum tree stops stretching for 1.5-2 weeks. Once branch growth resumes, another pinch is needed.

This should be done from the end of May through the first month of summer. It all depends on the plant's development stage. Pinching will encourage shoots to emerge from new buds, which will have time to mature and strengthen by the onset of winter.

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Pinching

There's another procedure performed on plums—pinching. There's a specific algorithm to follow to ensure everything is done correctly. It involves:

1. Leave 5-6 leaves from the base of the branch and remove everything else.
2. As a result, a shoot will emerge from the upper leaf axil. Allow it to grow and then prune it back. Three to four leaves should remain on it.

Only young shoots emerging from large branches are pinched. This will help grow full-fledged wood in the area of ​​the mother branch. Furthermore, it will allow for a good harvest and accelerate fruit ripening.

The purpose of summer pruning

To prune a plum tree, you need to choose the right time. The ideal period is June-July. The advantage of summer pruning is the opportunity to spot the most dense areas against the backdrop of the newly blossoming foliage, thin them out, and shorten the branches. Summer pruning will not only help shape the crown but also provide sanitary treatment.

Gardeners are addressing this issue with the following goals in mind:

• Increase the plant's frost resistance and prevent possible damage to branches. They can break under the weight of snow or ice, so they should be pruned periodically;
• Preventing crown thickening, which results in not all shoots receiving the necessary light and nutrition. Consequently, reduced yields and slower branch growth and development may be observed;
• forming a correct crown so that the shoots do not stretch upwards, but grow correctly;
• giving the tree a beautiful appearance.

Moreover, summer pruning helps prevent the development of diseases. During this time of year, certain areas of the plant can become diseased, and if not addressed promptly, the disease will spread further, ultimately leading to the death of the plant.

What types of pruning exist?

There are several types of pruning procedures for plum trees. Each has a specific purpose. These include sanitary, thinning, rejuvenating, and formative pruning. Each is performed at a specific time and frequency.

Sanitary pruning

This type of pruning is essential and should be done at least twice a year: once in the spring before the buds swell, and again in the fall, after the leaves have completely fallen.

Sanitary pruning is performed on plants aged 2-3 years. This includes:

• get rid of dry, broken and damaged branches;
• cut out shoots that grow densely and inside the crown;
• cut out the shoots that are located close to each other and therefore rub.

Additionally, it's necessary to prune shoots infected with fungus or other diseases. This will rid the plum tree of any unwanted growth and allow it to continue growing.

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Thinning pruning

This variety is necessary to reduce crown density. To achieve this, all branches that exhibit irregular growth should be trimmed. Furthermore, shoots growing deep into the crown will also need to be pruned. Branches growing vertically (suckers) should also be removed.

A mature plant requires thinning pruning. However, this should only be done when the fruit production has decreased and the growth has been reduced by 10-15 cm.

Rejuvenating pruning

With proper and timely care, a plum tree will continue to bear fruit for 15 years. During this period, pruning will maintain uniform shoot growth. Once the tree reaches its maximum height, growth stops. This is the starting point at which the plant is considered old. In this case, crown formation occurs differently—rejuvenation pruning is used.

The purpose of this procedure is to gradually replace all old wood with new. To achieve this, some of the old branches are pruned (usually no more than 1/4 of the crown). Young shoots are grown in their place. Ultimately, a completely new tree is formed.

Complete crown renewal occurs every year. This approach extends the plum tree's life cycle, as well as its fruiting period.

Formative pruning

Pruning to shape the crown can be done in the first years of a tree's life cycle. This pruning method will help shape the tree to your desired shape. It can produce the following crown types:

• sparsely tiered;
• cup-shaped;
• pyramidal.

The gardener chooses the formative pruning schedule based on climate conditions, plum variety, and personal preferences. However, there's one rule for everyone: the first pruning should be done the year the seedling is planted. This approach will ensure it receives the necessary nutrition. Deviating from the schedule, even for a year, will result in stunted growth.

Benefits of summer pruning

Beginning gardeners don't understand why it's necessary to prune plum trees in the summer. They believe the ideal time is early spring. But this isn't true. Summer crown shaping also has its advantages, which confirm its practicality. These include:

• Damaged or diseased branches can be easily identified, so removing them is easy. This will protect the tree from dying;
• increasing resistance to severe frosts;
• the ability to remove incorrectly growing shoots;
• extension of the fruiting period;
• increase in crop yield.

But to do everything correctly, it's essential to understand the circumcision process itself. This requires studying expert recommendations and watching instructional videos and photos that describe the entire process step by step.

Pruning diagram and technique

To ensure a successful pruning process, it must be carried out carefully. A special plum pruning scheme has been developed for this purpose. It varies depending on the age of the tree. Furthermore, it's important to follow the correct technique for performing this "operation."

Plum tree pruning diagram

First, you should choose a pruning method based on the plum tree's age. This is not surprising, as the pruning method for seedlings, 2-3-year-old plants, and mature trees differs.

So, whether or not to prune plum seedlings after planting them outdoors should be decided based on their appearance. If they resemble a small, smooth stick, the procedure can be postponed for a year. However, in this case, they should be tied to a support until spring. However, gardeners often stimulate the formation of new shoots by shortening the seedling by 7-12 cm.

Two-year-old trees already have several shoots, so crown shaping is essential. Neglecting this process is crucial, as growth will slow and the wood will become brittle and vulnerable. In such plants, the main stem, irregular branches, and suckers should be pruned.

After a year, the plum tree should be pruned in the same way, but you'll also need to remove any new, unwanted shoots. Removal should be done down to the base of the branch. This procedure should be repeated annually, even on older plum trees.

Pruning technique

Proper crown formation is impossible without proper technique. For example, pruning should be performed "at the bud" if the direction of branch growth needs to be changed. The technique is as follows:

1. On a young shoot, select a bud whose location corresponds to the direction of the branches.
2. Position the tool so that its cutting edge is directed towards the shoot that needs to be preserved.
3. Remove at a 45° angle, without touching the bud.

If "ring pruning" is necessary, it involves removing a strong branch. This is done if the branch is diseased or growing abnormally. Pruning shears are required. The cut is made at an angle along the outer edge of the ring to the base.

A "side branch" cut is necessary to reduce growth or even trim it. For this purpose, the main branches need to be relocated to lateral branches. The cut should be parallel to the lateral shoot.

If it's important to remove side shoots, pruning should begin at the bottom and gradually move upward. Basal shoots should be trimmed throughout the summer to ensure the tree receives the nutrients it needs for a good harvest.

Rules

To successfully trim and prune a plum tree, certain rules must be followed. These include choosing the right tool based on the part of the plant being removed, as well as caring for the tree afterward.

1. To remove large branches, you'll need a saw. First, cut off a third of the shoot, avoiding splinters. Only then can you saw off the remaining portion. You'll need to clean up the cut surface with a knife. This will help prevent rot in the cut areas.
2. Pruning shears can help remove thin branches. Position them with the blade facing down and the clamping part facing up. This will result in a smooth cut with even edges.
3. The tool used must be disinfected. This is important because if the plum is weakened, damage to the bark can cause it to become diseased and die.

After pruning, branches should be removed from the garden plot and burned. The plant then requires care, which includes irrigation, pruning, fertilizing, and loosening the soil.

Necessary tools

To prune a plum tree correctly, you need to consider not only its age and the local climate. You also need to follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners. They recommend using the right gardening tools when performing this procedure.

To trim a tree you will need:

• Secateurs – can remove shoots up to 2.5 cm thick. For dry branches, it is better to use a bypass model, and for dry ones, an anvil model;
• hacksaw – will remove old branches thicker than 5 cm growing on a mature tree;
• garden knife – will help smooth out uneven areas and cut off burrs;
• Pruning shears – easy to work with in hard to reach places.

You'll also need garden pitch to treat the cut areas. While working, wear gloves to protect your hands from scratches and cuts.

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How to prune an old plum tree

Pruning an old plum tree requires careful and responsible approach. Therefore, it's important to familiarize yourself with the specifics of this process in advance. It involves removing excess shoots, pruning, and shortening the trunk and skeletal branches. These branches should be removed down to the strongest shoots.

Treat the cuts with garden pitch, and new branches will soon emerge. However, it's best to leave only 3-4 of them, and prune the rest. However, remember not to remove too many old branches at once, as this will kill the plant. This procedure should be spread out over several years. It has a rejuvenating effect and will preserve the crown and prolong fruiting.

How to prune yellow and columnar plums

There are many varieties of yellow plum. Beginning gardeners believe that there are special rules for growing them, just like for pruning. However, this is a misconception. Pruning this crop is done in the same way as for other varieties; the principles remain the same.

Pruning columnar plums has some peculiarities. This tree has a compact crown, and plum blossoms appear along the trunk rather than on the branches. For this reason, lateral shoots are unnecessary and should be removed annually.

In this case, it's important to preserve the central conductor. If the tip of the main shoot freezes, 2-3 new shoots will emerge from it. Choose the most developed of these and prune the rest.

How to prune a bush plum tree

If the plum tree has a bush-like shape, pruning is also necessary. In this case, a sanitary procedure will be required to remove diseased and dead branches, as well as thinning. In this case, it is important to remove shoots growing deep into the crown.

It's also essential to remove root suckers—plum trees produce a lot of them. This must be done carefully, otherwise you could damage the roots located close to the surface. It's important to cut the suckers close to the root system, digging up the top layer of soil.

Caring for plums after pruning

After pruning unwanted shoots, the plum tree needs proper care. All cuts larger than 1 cm in diameter should be disinfected with a 1% copper sulfate solution. This will prevent fungus from entering the wound.

The wounds should then be treated with garden pitch or painted with natural oil paint. The cut shoots should be collected and burned. This approach, in the event of disease, minimizes the risk of infecting other plants in the garden. Plum trees also need watering and fertilizing immediately after pruning. Fertilizer should be selected based on the season.

Summer pruning of plum trees must be carried out promptly and in compliance with all regulations. To avoid mistakes, it's essential to follow expert recommendations. If the theory is unclear, you can watch a video of the procedure, as well as photos of what the tree should look like after removing unnecessary branches.