How do you reduce the height of a plum tree?

The basic principles are:

If significant pruning is required spread it over two or three years.
Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches (the three Ds) first.
Prune away any crossing branches.
Thin out the centre of the tree.
When pruning at this stage, try to maintain the “balance” of the tree.

Why are the plums dropping off the tree?

There can be numerous reasons why a plum tree drops its fruit before it ripens: insects, disease, high winds, and stress ( too much water, too little water, lack of nutrients, poor drainage, weed competition, and excessive shade, for example).

What is a satsuma plum?

A Satsuma Plum is a Japanese variety of trees that produce juicy fruit that you can eat right from the tree. Satsuma Plums are chosen by many because they are a large sweet plum variety that produces dark fruit that is perfect for canning or enjoying freshly picked.

What is the best time to prune plum trees?

spring
Avoid pruning plums in winter, as it increases the risk of infection by silver leaf disease to which plums and other Prunus species are prone. The best time for pruning is usually spring for young trees and mid-summer for established ones.

How do you keep Plums from dropping?

To avoid fruit drop as a result of overbearing, we recommend thinning the young fruit before the tree drops it. In general, it is best to leave 4-6 inches between each fruit and break up any clusters that may form. You may use small, sharp pruners to remove the fruit or simply pluck it off with your fingers.

What diseases affect plum trees?

PLUM TREE PESTS AND DISEASES

PLUM SAWFLY. The picture above shows the damage done to plums by the plum sawfly (Hoplocampa flava).
PLUM TREE LEAF CURL.
APHIDS.
PINK MAGGOTS INSIDE PLUMS.
PIGEONS.
BROWN ROT OF PLUM TREES.
WINTER MOTH.
SCALE INSECTS.

What month do plum trees produce fruit?

So, when does a plum tree bear fruit? A plum tree will produce fruit 3 to 6 years after planting (sooner if you buy more mature trees!). Plum trees produce fruit between June and September, after blooming in late winter to early spring. Dwarf varieties can produce fruit a year sooner (2 to 5 years after planting).

How big does an Italian prune plum tree get?

Italian prune plum trees (Prunus domestica) are an excellent choice of plum varietal to grow. Italian prunes can be kept as dwarf trees around 10-12 feet through careful pruning, a very manageable size. They are self fertile, winter hardy and the luscious fruit can be eaten fresh, dried or canned.

What kind of tree is an Italian prune?

The Italian prune tree (Prunus domestica), also called a European prune or European plum tree, is a stone fruit tree that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.

What’s the best way to cut back a plum tree?

Create a scaffold whorl. Choose four branches evenly spaced around the tree to serve as the tree’s “scaffold whorl.” These branches provide structure and keep the tree’s shape balanced. Cut each of the four branches back so that each one has just 1 or 2 buds. Make the cuts just above the buds.

Why are the plums on my tree thinning?

There are three reasons for plum fruit thinning. The tree will bear larger, sweeter and juicier plums if there are fewer on the tree maturing. Secondly, the enormous weight of too many ripening plums often causes the branches to crack, opening them up to silver leaf disease.

What kind of fruit does an Italian plum tree produce?

The Italian Plum is a fantastic, well-rounded tree that always produces a significant amount of extra sweet, dark purple, oval shaped fruit. A key benefit of Italian is that it’s everbearing, meaning the fruit keeps ripening all summer and early fall!

Italian prune plum trees ( Prunus domestica) are an excellent choice of plum varietal to grow. Italian prunes can be kept as dwarf trees around 10-12 feet through careful pruning, a very manageable size. They are self fertile, winter hardy and the luscious fruit can be eaten fresh,…

The Italian prune tree (Prunus domestica), also called a European prune or European plum tree, is a stone fruit tree that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.