Damaged Plum Tree

[traceywin]

We have inherited a plum tree on our allotment which has been battered by the snow. One of the branches has broken and I was wondering whether I can cut it off now or will it make the tree more susceptible to disease. If I do do it now is there something I put over the cut to help it heal.

[FB.]

With a broken branch, the tree has already been exposed to the possibility of disease entering.
I suggest removing the broken branch and leaving a clean cut, which will have a better chance of healing successfully than trying to prop-up the branch, or the infection risk of a ragged cut.
Check the wound and adjacent branches periodically for the next couple of seasons, to watch for dying-back as a symptom of disease entry. Be prepared to take further action promptly, if the pruning wound becomes diseased.

As for covering the wound.....there are two different opinions.
One is that by covering the wound, you trap fungal spores under the dressing - and that the wound can't heal properly unless exposed to the air.

But there are plenty of fruit tree wound sealants - such as Arbrex "seal and heal"

Plums and cherries are normally pruned just as they come active in the spring - to prevent disease entering wounds while the tree is dormant.
I suggest that during the spring, you give the tree an all-over tidy, to remove or shorten branches that might break next winter.

[traceywin]

Thank you for your advice. Will get it done and keep an eye on it.

[FB.]

I made a couple of additions and corrections - you might want to re-read my post just in case there's something extra and useful in there.

[Mell]

I'd seal it, after making a clean cut, stone fruits arn't supposed to be pruned unless they are vigerously growing, I prune in June. But when I need to graft it has to be done earlier so I seal well immediatly afterwards. I use lac balsam