[gth]

:?: does anybody know if you prune plum trees if you do when and how look forward to hearing replies i have two victoria trees didnt do any thing with them last year now lower limbs hanging on the floor all ready this is without the weight of the fruit

[shaun]

we have a couple of plum trees on our plot but there donkeys years old and and they never get pruned,have you thought about using timber posts and wire rails to tie the branches up.

[splodger]

stone fruit trees - like plums and cherries are prone to a killing disease called silver leaf, which is caused by a fungus that lives in the tree.

the fungus gains entry into the tree through wounds from damaged / broken branches, scraped bark and through pruning cuts.

for this reason many people don't prune plum trees - but if they are allowed to grow unpruned, they will become conjested, bows will break and they will probably die.

the fungus spores are l;ess active in the summer months - so you should only prune stone fruits in late june or july - making clean pruning cuts and by treating open wounds with antiseptic paint available for fruit trees.

as for the actual pruning - it depends on age - size and desired shape.

if you have overladen branches - take off the smallest fruits.

you can also get props to support low and heavy branches - i use chestnut poles with a fork at one end.

post again with details of age size etc if you would like further advice on pruning.

[gth]

stone fruit trees -

thanks for the advice cant give definate age of trees as inherited them when i took over the plot  

i think i will go for the safest option as do not want to kill them cost too much to replace and too long to wait for the bumper crop i had last year

iwill go for the removal of small fruit as last year had a mass of fruit which athough very nice done nothing for the families digestion

will let you how i get on

thanks again learn something new every day

geoff