How to Prune a Plum Tree

Plum trees need to be pruned once a year to maintain a healthy shape and produce plenty of fruit. The timing of pruning is important as the tree can become infected if it is done at the wrong time of year. See step 1 below on how to prune a plum tree to help it grow healthy and in good shape.

Table of Contents

Pruning young plum trees

Prune the tree at the right time. You can perform pruning in the summer or winter when the tree is dormant. Pruning of dormant plants is done in late winter, when the tree has lost all its leaves and no new shoots have sprouted. Pruning during dormancy stimulates new shoot growth in the spring and is less likely to cause damage to the tree than when pruning in the summer. Summer pruning is usually done to slow the growth of overgrown trees and remove overgrown new branches.

Try to prune the tree in late winter before new shoots emerge, as frosts that occur after pruning can damage the tree.
Leave some branches for summer pruning. Excessive pruning in the winter can cause the tree to overgrow and reduce fruit production.

Prune back seedlings after planting. Pruning seedlings during the tree’s first dormant season is necessary to help the tree grow well and have the desired shape. At the right time right after planting, cut the tree so that it is only about 75 cm tall. ^{[1] X Research Source} Cut just above a bud.

New shoots will grow at the point you cut.
Use tree scissors to make the cut clean and sharp. Small holes and cuts will leave the plant vulnerable to pests and diseases.
After the first pruning, you can paint the trunk with white latex paint to protect the tree from sunburn and pests.

Create trusses for the tree. Choose 4 branches that grow evenly around the trunk to make the “framework” of the tree. These branches give structure and keep the tree balanced. Prune the buds on these 4 branches so that each branch has only 1 or 2 buds left. Cut just above the shoots. Prune all horizontal shoots and bushy branches that grow close to the trunk.

During the first 2 years after planting, you should only prune during the dormant season of the tree and trim the branches so that they are only about 25 cm long.

Create more trusses in the third year. By the third year after planting, the plum tree will have additional healthy side shoots. Create more sets of truss branches that grow evenly around the trunk. Prune the truss branches near the top of the tree so that each branch has only 1 bud and the truss branches near the base of the tree have 2 buds. The plum tree must be shaped like a Christmas tree so that sunlight can penetrate the canopy and help the tree grow well. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Continue pruning the trunk. Every year you need to prune the trunk about 30-60 cm to control the height of the tree and stimulate the tree to grow luxuriantly towards the base. Prune so that a leaf bud remains at the tip of the branch.

Continue doing this until the tree reaches the height you want. During the first 3-5 years, you should continue to create new trusses and cut back the trunk during the tree’s dormant season. Once you’re satisfied with the tree’s height, you can move on to pruning techniques appropriate for mature trees.

Maintenance of mature plum trees

Prune dead and diseased branches. Every year you need to cut off dead and diseased branches so that the tree does not have to provide them with nutrients. Use a saw or pruning shears to cut off branches sticking out of the trunk. Make sure to cut it neatly so that the plant does not get infected further.

If there are nodules growing from large branches, cut just outside the node, a few centimeters from the trunk.
You can remove dead and diseased branches at any time of the year, as the tree will not be affected by this pruning.

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Prune branches that do not bear fruit. If you notice a few branches that don’t appear to be bearing fruit, you may need to remove those branches. Cut close to the stem instead of leaving a single bud, as new shoots that grow on the same branch usually do not bear fruit either.

Cut off the shoots near the base. These shoots grow from the root system around the base of the tree. You need to cut these shoots off so that the plant can concentrate nutrients on the main stem of the plant. Use scissors to cut all the shoots near the base to the ground. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Cut branches that cross into other branches. Plum trees usually grow new branches each season and dig into existing branches. It is important that you prune the tree very carefully so that there are no branches that cross each other. These branches make the tree grow denser and block the light from entering the branches. They also impede air circulation, making plants more susceptible to diseases and pests.

Prune in the summer to limit plant growth. If your plum tree is getting too big for your yard, you can prune it in the summer to slow down its growth. As opposed to pruning during dormancy, summer pruning works to reduce energy and limit plant growth during the season.

If you prune your tree in the summer, be careful not to cut too much.
Pruning done too late in the summer can make it difficult for the tree to withstand the cold winter temperatures. If in the US, don’t prune your tree after July to reduce the risk of new branches being damaged by frost.
Note that pruning in the summer can cause the tree to focus its energy on producing new leaves instead of fruiting.

Advice

If you prune the tree in wet weather, the plum tree is at risk of blight.
Apply pruning paint to freshly cut branches to prevent disease.
The best time to prune plum trees is in early spring or early summer during dry days. Winter pruning should never be done (to avoid blight).
If your plum tree is fan-shaped, you will need to shape the tree while pruning. Trim the newly sprouted side shoots so that only 6 leaves remain.

Warning

Discard all pruned branches to avoid spreading disease.
Avoid pruning in midsummer if you don’t want to see the plum tree concentrate its nutrients to develop lush foliage instead of fruiting.

Things you need

Saw
Secateurs
Tree sealing material
Garden Gloves
Proper methods for disposing of cut branches.

Steps

Pruning young plum trees

Maintenance of mature plum trees

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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