When is the best month to prune plum trees? What is the best time and method to prune branches?

Plum tree pruning time

The time for pruning plum trees is generally in winter and summer. The purpose of pruning in summer is to shape the plum trees and increase their yield. When pruning, pinch the top of the branches to control the height of the plum trees and stimulate the growth of side branches. Then shorten and comb some branches that have grown too long to increase the light transmittance of the plum trees. In winter, prune away dead branches, diseased branches, old branches and branches that do not bear fruit, and enhance the ventilation of the plum trees.

How to prune a plum tree

1. Pruning when young

When plum trees are growing vigorously in the early stages of planting, their shape and crown should be pruned to keep the growth of the entire tree balanced and ensure the early harvest yield of the plum trees. In addition, short branches should be pruned to allow more medium branches and short branches to grow.

2. Pruning during the fruit-bearing period

During the harvesting stage, plum trees need to be pruned to allow them to absorb nutrients. During the peak fruit-bearing period, plum trees consume a lot of nutrients, so it is necessary to prune away some useless branches as much as possible to allow the developing fruits to absorb more nutrients and make the fruits more abundant. Then, cut off the main and side branches to allow the plum tree branches to grow better.

3. Pruning during maturity

For plum trees that have already reached maturity and maturity, the growth ability of some old branches begins to weaken, and these need to be pruned back in time to promote the growth of new branches, restore the growth of branches, and increase fruit yields.

Plum tree pruning tips

During the cultivation period of plum trees, pay attention to the need for reasonable application of water and fertilizer. When pruning plum trees, try to choose summer or winter. Spring and autumn are the peak growth periods of plum tree fruits, and pruning is not recommended. When pruning, pay attention to combing out and removing branches that grow too densely to improve the light transmittance and ventilation of the entire tree and enable it to photosynthesize.