duel plum tree

[Elaine Firth]

Please help, two years ago my loverley husband suprised me with two duel fruit tree`s one plum and one apple, sadly because it was a suprise he planted them into the garden without first finding out anything about them. all he remembers is they are duel mini fruit trees/bushes. the apple tree has been very succesful however the plum is now over six foot and bares no fruit just lots of leaves. can anyone tell me how and when to prune it. stiggy

[TPeers]

Not too good with plums but from memory....

Only prune while in active (leafy) growth - about August I think as the sap will no longer be rising so the cuts won't bleed too badly but well before the frosts to give the cuts time to heal.

Prune principally for shape at this stage - cutting out rubbing branches, reducing the height to what you want - that sort of thing.

When shortening a branch cut at an angle so that rain will drain off, and always just above a bud or leaf joint. This is so the buds in the axials can take over from the terminal bud you have removed.

When removing a whole branch cut the branch 6" or 9" out to remove the weight then cut close to the trunk, you are looking for a finished cut no more than 1/2" from the trunk or it may die back to the trunk allowing an entry point for fungal infections and/or desease.

A certain amout of sap will bleed, only worry if it starts to run down the tree!

Terry

[rustylady]

I would go with what TPeers says. Only prune for shape at this stage. Plum trees need to be quite mature before they bear fruit. Don't feed with high nitrogen fertiliser as you'll just get more leaves and branches.

[Elaine Firth]

thanks everyone, will give it a go and see how it goes stiggy