Plum Tree- Pruning Advice Please

[purdeyblackcat]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this forum and to allotment gardening and would value any advice given. I inherited a plot last week which has a plum tree on it. The tree is 6+ years old and about 10 feet tall. It is overhanging the south side of the plot and casting a shadow - would it be wise to prune it? I'd like to train it properly as it is overgrown and all over the place but all the books only advise on newly planted trees not established ones. It has a number of young whippy sideshots which are flexible enough to be trained, but would it be wise to basically remove the top 6ft of the trunk and upper branches? Would the tree recover? And what time of year should I attempt it? Thanks.

[Capsid]

Little pruning is necessary, but you can cut out dead, broken, rubbing and cross branches and thin out the head when it becomes too crowded. You can do this now until the end of August. So I think you can go ahead with your heavy pruning.