Pruning an old plum tree, how to prune a plum tree

[@ionmeta6100]

Yayy, super easy to understand the process and you went into some of the more refined choices one needs to make in the process of pruning. Thank you.

[@growtolearn4545]

I am so glad you found my video helpful!

[@karineliboiron2886]

I learned more by watching this video than the other 50 videos I've found on KZbin. All other videos seem to cut branches randomly and way too quickly for me to understand what is happening. I really appreciate the pace and in-depth explanation of what a new branch looks like, where the fruits grow on that branch, and what happens after you cut that branch.

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello! I am truly happy to hear that you have found my video useful for you. Thank you for the beautiful comment!

[@douglasakerman5218]

Thanks for this. I have an old tree that needs all of your pointers.

[@growtolearn4545]

Absolutely! I will post more videos as I get some free time.

[@2Birds1Stone_]

Love it! An art! I bought my house because we took a tour when the old Italian plum tree was ripe. Nice video

[@starrtraveler29]

Nobody on YT, that I've seen, shows how to prune for encouraging fruiting wood to grow for the next year. Thanks for explaining in depth how to accomplish this. Any fruiting trees this method doesn't work for? Thanks again.

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello starrtraveler. Thank you for the kind words. This will work for any stone fruit. It's a little different on the seeded fruits like apple and pear. Watch some of my apple videos. 🍎

[@vulk86]

Great! Subscribed!

[@growtolearn4545]

Thank you Thomas

[@diyayewoman]

Hello! Thanks for posting this. We just moved into a house with a completely overgrown plum tree. We want to make it a lot shorter (it’s encroaching on the neighbouring garden). How thick can the thickest branch be when cutting back to get new growth?

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello Jessica 👋. Well there is a rule that you shouldn't cut anything thicker in diameter then 4 inches because it won't be able to grow over the cut. Also if you're totally removing a branch, cut it to the ring where it grows out off on the branch or the trunk without leaving a stump.

[@diyayewoman]

@@growtolearn4545 thanks for the reply. It’s a bloody old tree and really needs cut back! Can I do this now? All the fruit has fallen, but the leaves are still on. We have about 3 months until first frost.

[@growtolearn4545]

Well, if you cut now you will stimulate new growth that will not have time to get hardy enough to go into the winter. At this time it's best to wait for the tree to go into dormancy. Also don't cut more then one third of the tree

[@karaforristall3979]

Hi, appreciate this post. A few years ago I moved into a house with a plum tree that's sandwiched between a two other trees, therefore, it mostly grows vertical. I cut the growth above 10 feet or so last winter, but each year I get new growth from the top that's 7'-8'. The old growth branches are about 9' tall making the trees way too tall and I don't know what to do about it. What would you do in this situation?

[@coolmantoole]

I have a few questions: 1 Did the tree turn out to be on its own root? Or is it grafted? If it's grafted the suckers are the rootstock. If it's on i's own root, what's the strain? Is it a chickasaw cultivar that has been passed down locally? Plums are pretty good at having a very visible graft scare when they are grafted, even when they are super mature unlike some fruit species.

[@growtolearn4545]

It's grafted to a rootstock.

[@tuitran2068]

Hi John, Ok, I'll try your method on my old plum tree. By the way, where you bought the trimming tools, what brand and model is that ?. Thanks for sharing. Tui

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello Tui, thank you for watching my video and i'm glad that you found it useful. The red handled hand pruners that im using are Felco i believe #11 and the long wand pruners are made by fiskars. Fiskars 54 in. EZ Reach Stik Tree Pruner $39.97 @ Home Depot. I hope this helps

[@TophatOrange]

Does fruit only grow on 2 year old branches? or also older. I see some videos where they take away all the 1 year branches and some just shorten them. its confusing.

[@growtolearn4545]

Hi TophatOrange, the fruiting branches are one year, two year and three.

[@rad1sh480]

I didn't know plums only fruit on 1 and 2 year old wood. That will affect my pruning in future, thank you. However, everything I've read and seen says to prune plum trees in Spring/early summer to avoid/reduce possibility of silver leaf. I'm in the UK, maybe it's not a problem where you are?

[@growtolearn4545]

You're welcome

[@sappir26]

How do they do it when they have a whole orchard of about 1000 trees or more?

[@growtolearn4545]

It depends on how they grow them and what variety, also the rootstock has a big role to play in the size of the tree. In general the plum likes to grow tall and more vertical so by transferring the vertical growth to a less vigorous side branches helps to keep the tree height limited and also trimming all the new growth to about 12 to 14in that will increase the growth of new fruiting wood and also keep the tree from getting away from you

[@katherineauletavandervalk8222]

Wondering if there is a percentage we shouldn’t take off with the our overgrown plum tree - you say with the cherry not more to an 30% - but don’t mention with the plum

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello. Yes it's the same with all the trees.

[@katherineauletavandervalk8222]

And if we need to make a bold move like cut down the center trunk (to try to go for the tea cup shape) is there a preferred time to do that? maybe when it’s dry out? To avoid disease?

[@growtolearn4545]

@katherineauletavandervalk8222 it would be better if it was dry that way when you apply pruning paste after making a cut it will stick well to the surface. It's always better to treat larger cuts (bigger than 1/2 in in diameter) with pruning paste or even latex paint if don't have any just to let them heal better and keep out fungus and bacteria

[@marcusarelius2154]

about 4 years ago, not knowing anything about pruning, I removed a large central vertical that was trying to take over the center peak growth of the tree. It has not produced any fruit since. How can I make it produce fruit again? It was about 2/3 the diameter of the trunk of the tree. Have I caused irreparable damage?

[@marcusarelius2154]

I should mention the tree produced well every other year for about 7 years prior to the above. It is now over 15 years old

[@growtolearn4545]

Hi Marcus. Does the tree flower?

[@bluemoonie7650]

@@growtolearn4545 Yes. Thx.

[@bluemoonie7650]

@@growtolearn4545 This is Marcus replying from a different device. Hence the different name blue Moonie. It flowers but at a greatly reduced volume.

[@jimpringle3778]

Last year in following the recommended pruning for our plum tree, We achieved an excellent blossom BUT zero fruit set??? Puzzled??? Jim Pringle

[@growtolearn4545]

If your tree puts out good blossoms and has no fruit set, that means that the flowers didn't get pollinated or the returning frost got them. Do you have anymore plum trees in the nearby area?

[@growtolearn4545]

If you have flowers and the pollution happens, you will have fruit

[@growtolearn4545]

When plums bloom, the potential for bad weather is high, also it could be cold for the pollinators to do their job, to bring pollin from another pollenizer. There are alot of factors but the potential for fruit is there if the blossoms are there. You can also try pollinating by hand. I hope this helps.

[@johnmulligan1382]

@@growtolearn4545 I have a European plum ,I'm thinking its 4 yrs old now l haven't ever pruned it, a few weeks ago it had flowered really well then we got a late heavy wet snow ,l went out and shook the snow off to save the branch's, I'm going to atempt to prune it today,enjoyed your info

[@growtolearn4545]

@@johnmulligan1382 Thank you! I appreciate your comment. I'm glad you were able to find this video helpful. Where are you located, that you had snow?

[@moealles7280]

Neglected back yard plum tree for decades. Doesn't get enough light. Has what I now know is a lot of black knot.

[@growtolearn4545]

Yes, it's important to have good air flow, or at least a regular spraying of fungicides

[@yarnybart5911]

Don't you guys suffer from Silver Leaf if you prune in the winter?

[@growtolearn4545]

No, not really an issue if you spray with antifungal in the spring

[@هاديالمشاري-ظ7د]

It is late to prune this tree ...it is flowring allready

[@growtolearn4545]

it is actually not too late, it is better to prune before it comes out of dormancy but its not too late. you can prune all year long if you need to but the majority should be done before bud brake.

[@terrim.602]

I'm sorry, I couldn't understand what you are saying.

[@growtolearn4545]

Hello there. Is there something in particular you are looking for?

[@SergeiLazarev-nn2pk]

Again, not a really good explanation like tonnes of other videos. You just talk about what branches aren't good and start randomly cutting them. That is not helpful. Make a simple drawing and go part by part of the tree. Also, I don't get it about the vertical sucker branches. Some people remove them completely and you cut them in pieces, so who is right?

[@growtolearn4545]

I am sorry you didn't find what you were looking for in my video. I will do my best to do a video with a diagram breaking down branch by branch to make it more understandable.

[@CashNYC]

great video too much talking tho

[@growtolearn4545]

😆 lol, thank you for the comment