Opal Plum Tree Pruning

[Garden_Chris]

Hi Guys,

I've recently purchased an Opal Plum tree on VVA-1 ('Krymsk' sp?) rootstock from Blackmoors. My first impressions were that the tree was certainly vigorous enough and healthy to boot, but it seems to me, to be in a rather odd shape.

As you'll no doubt be able to tell from the below image, it has a central leader which at a lower point generated side branches, but continued until it was evidently cut and then produced a great volume of branches at varying degrees. I was expecting something a little more like the second image (follow the link) at the bottom of the post.

My concern is that given the very large central trunk, when it produces plums in years to come, it will snap in half under its own weight. Is there any way for me to effectively prune it to stop this from:
A) Happening and
B) Achieve a shape more akin to the bottom image.

It's a maiden tree as well.

Thanks.



http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advice/ACEIma...aya_532390.jpg

[orangepippin]

Fascinating! I think you are correct, the tree was cut near the top at some point early last summer, and has then grown a head of younger shoots. In fact I wonder if it really is a maiden, it might be a 2-year tree (perhaps winter-grafted).

I think you have to cut it right back to about 4ft, and shorten the side laterals considerably, otherwise, as you say, it is going to become unstable. The only alternative would be to leave it as it is, but use a permanent stake to support the stem.

I also think you should ask the supplier for their advice.

[rustylady]

I don't think it's going to do well in that small a pot. Fruit trees are much better in open ground.

[FB.]

I think I can see a total of four branches just below and just above the label.
I'd be tempted to make a pruning cut a few buds (a few inches) above the group of branches near the label.
Then shorten those which remain (especially the long ones on the left and to the rear of the trunk), to keep it compact, tidy and lower the centre of gravity in order to help reduce the risk of the pot blowing over in the wind.

It will probably not fruit this year as a result of the pruning, but that's the price to pay for a well-shaped tree.

It would then become a compact bush with a stem of about 1ft. But as it's on a dwarf rootstock, a short stem and compact habit was surely the ultimate aim (?).

But what I think "looks right" might not be what someone else thinks, or might not be what they want.
So don't go chopping at it unless you agree with what I've said!

[yummersetter]

Its a bit hard to decipher the shape on my minilappy - its merging with the plant behind. How tall is it?

If you've recently bought it, I'd send the photo to the nursery with a disgruntled note - why should you lose a lot of growth / fruiting time because someone's made a mess of the structural pruning? Let them a) replace it or b) give you instructions on how to prune it (which shouldn't be done at this time of year) and take some responsibility for a later replacement if it doesn't work out.
I don't think the supplier would like to have your reshaping of this plum be a long-drawn-out saga on this forum . . .

[FB.]

If it was sold as a one-year maiden, it's actually a step-up from that; it's currently a feathered maiden with as much branching as I'd expect from a two-year-old dwarf bush.
Not that the branching is ideal though; at the top, there are too many shoots, which will result in the tree splitting down the middle unless the dense "head" is either removed (a single cut halfway between the upper cluster and the lower group of branches) or alternatively the numbers of upper branches clustered together at one point need to be reduced (not headed-back) to three or four at a good spacing from each other.

[zazen999]

If I was buying a plum from them I'd want a central leader in place, that looks more like a bush than a tree. Ask for a replacement.

[Garden_Chris]

I think I can see a total of four branches just below and just above the label.

You are indeed correct

I'd be tempted to make a pruning cut a few buds (a few inches) above the group of branches near the label.
Then shorten those which remain (especially the long ones on the left and to the rear of the trunk), to keep it compact, tidy and lower the centre of gravity in order to help reduce the risk of the pot blowing over in the wind.

It will probably not fruit this year as a result of the pruning, but that's the price to pay for a well-shaped tree.

It would then become a compact bush with a stem of about 1ft. But as it's on a dwarf rootstock, a short stem and compact habit was surely the ultimate aim (?).

Certainly was!

But what I think "looks right" might not be what someone else thinks, or might not be what they want.
So don't go chopping at it unless you agree with what I've said!

Thanks for the advice FB - when you would say is a favourable time to make those pruning cuts? I've read just after bud burst?

[Garden_Chris]

Its a bit hard to decipher the shape on my minilappy - its merging with the plant behind. How tall is it?

I'm 6ft tall, and when I look at the very top, my eyes are level with it. However, should I have planted it directly into the ground (this wasn't my intention, I purposefully purchased a 1 year old maiden on VVA-1 - the most dwarfing rootstock for plums so it could sit in a pot) it would be around 4ft tall. I.e. Pot (2ft) + Plum 4ft = Me 6ft. Sorry, very long winded.

If you've recently bought it, I'd send the photo to the nursery with a disgruntled note - why should you lose a lot of growth / fruiting time because someone's made a mess of the structural pruning? Let them a) replace it or b) give you instructions on how to prune it (which shouldn't be done at this time of year) and take some responsibility for a later replacement if it doesn't work out.
I don't think the supplier would like to have your reshaping of this plum be a long-drawn-out saga on this forum . . .

This was the taken from Blackmoors' website about the tree:
"1 x Plum Opal Krimsk 1 (V V A 1) - 1 Year Maiden Bare Root

1 Year Maiden = A one year old tree and the size depends on the variety but in general they will be 125cm in height and will have some side branches."

I was expecting a small vertical twig in all honesty, however, at most I was expecting (as it's only 1 year old on a very dwarfing roostock, 20cm side branches at best).

I would e-mail them, but for a few reasons:
1) Time. I don't have the time to have a couple of e-mails debating whether or not the tree is fit for purpose, pull out the old one, wait for a replacement, hope it's structurally better and then re-plant it.

2) Cost. It's in a pot, and I don't fancy pulling out all the Innes no. 3, keeping it in a wheelbarrow or some other container (of which I have non), because I'll inevitably spill some or it'll get ruined somehow resulting in buying new soil.

3) If it'll only take a couple of well placed cuts to sort it out, then I'm more than happy to do that. It was purchased with the hope it'd fruit in 2/3 years time as this is when I plan to move it to its final home

[FB.]

Thanks for the advice FB - when you would say is a favourable time to make those pruning cuts? I've read just after bud burst?

Yes, in order to prevent diseases attacking the pruning cuts, it is best to prune plums (and other stone fruits such as cherries) just as they start to show the first signs of life in spring. It will vary from year to year due to how slow or quick the trees are to come out of dormancy but March is considered to be the usual month for pruning stone fruits.
They can also be pruned any time while they have leaves, but loss of leaves is de-vigorating and needs to be carefully considered because ill-timed and ill-considered summer and especially early-autumn pruning can cripple or kill a tree. Someone about a mile from me killed their magnificent several-decades-old apple tree by hard-pruning in autumn (presumed Worcester Pearmain/M2).
Summer pruning is only usually used to reduce the amount of soft new shoots (new shoots only - older wood is best not pruned in summer), or to keep a trained form (e.g. fan) within its defined space.

[FB.]

If I was buying a plum from them I'd want a central leader in place, that looks more like a bush than a tree. Ask for a replacement.

It depends on what he wants to do with it.

In a small pot, too much topweight would cause it to keep falling over. The image in his link looks too "toppy" for a small pot; it'll blow over in the wind. A bigger (wider, flat-bottomed - more stable), heavier pot will be needed.
Chances are that the current pot would be too small for anything more than a 3-4ft bush. Too small for enough roots and too small to avoid being blown over or tipping over with a lot of fruit in the top of the tree.

If he wants to retain a leader, I would think that there would be one or two suitable shoots in that cluster at the top.

I would think that it's quite possible the cluster of shoots at the top will bear fruit this year if left unpruned, but the topweight of carrying fruit will probably cause the thin trunk to permanently bend sideways; disfiguring the tree for the rest of its life.

To attain something like the picture in the link, the lower branches near the label would need removing, and the about half the branches in the upper cluster will need to be cut-out completely.

But that makes quite a long, thin stem with a lot of topweight. I'm not sure that such a dwarfing rootstock in a fairly narrow pot will do well.

[stubbsdj]

I know how you feel!

I ordered a peach from the same nursery, Blackmoor's,
a one year maiden and got this.
I complained to no avail. Here's the reply
"Thank you for your email and photos, though I appreciate the size of the trunk is larger than some other maiden trees I can confirm that the tree you have received is a 1 year maiden and is the same as we use for fan training at the nursery."
I was hoping for something like a Peach tree I bought a couple of years back, from someone else, pictured here on the left, in the first summer.
Instead I got something I would need a chain saw to prune!!!!

[BUFFS]

I ordered a peach from the same nursery, Blackmoor's,
a one year maiden and got this.
I complained to no avail. Here's the reply
"Thank you for your email and photos, though I appreciate the size of the trunk is larger than some other maiden trees I can confirm that the tree you have received is a 1 year maiden and is the same as we use for fan training at the nursery."
I was hoping for something like a Peach tree I bought a couple of years back, from someone else, pictured here on the left, in the first summer.
Instead I got something I would need a chain saw to prune!!!!

i got my peach tree from aldi and seem to have been fortunate in its shape and condition,if i was paying blackmoors prices i would want that quality as well,but those shown on here seem to be more suited to a market stall,quality control needs introducing and removal of the "we will offload these" attitudes that some firms seem to be adopting,never thought to see top firms letting quality slip,they may not be fully aware of the situation,so i would talk to them,let them have a chance to remedy the problem...good luck with it...

[Garden_Chris]

It's raining right now, but I'll nip out later and take a photo of the tree after I performed a few pruning cuts. I'm absolutely satisfied with it now. Being in the pot as well, I'm hoping it'll restrict its growth a little too.