[sunshineband]

We have a four year old victoria plum with a long, non-flowering branch I want ot take out.

Advice says:
'Prune in the summer to avoid silver leaf'

'Prune in early spring to shape young trees'

OK, my question is, do I wait until leaves are out in full before pruning?

Logic says yes but I don't want to risk this going wrong

[Nikkithefoot]

My understanding is pruning immediately after fruiting is best, its what I do, but that doesn't make it correct.

[sunshineband]

I'm keen to take the wayward branch out as soon as is 'safe' as I want to avoid the tree wasting its energy on it all year, if you see what I mean 

[Ice]

As it's an airborne fungus I would wait for a dry spell with little wind and apply wound paint immediately.  But I am no expert.

[sunshineband]

Do they still sell Arbrex? 

So many things are now no longer acceptable. I'll have to check...

[Nikkithefoot]

Arguably you could take out the branch now then. With the sap rising it should callous over and heal fairly quickly.

[sunshineband]

Arguably you could take out the branch now then. With the sap rising it should callous over and heal fairly quickly.

I would worry now that with the sap rising it might do what my grape vine does (and birch trees) --- bleed badly   :blink:


I've just checked: Arbrex Seal and Heal is available 

[New shoot]

Yup - Seal & Heal is still around but based on natural tree resin these days

[Trillium]

I know pruning paint is the dirty word of gardening these days, but sometimes I must make a cut on something at the 'wrong' time of year and to stop the 'bleeding' I'll spray pruning paint on it. It's that or have diseases/whatever getting into the wet sap, and pruning paint wins every time. It's hard to get now but I still have a container around.

I too must make a big cut on my plum tree now because the height is getting out of hand and I don't want more height nor wasted plant energy. So yes, I'll be using my pruning paint. We don't get silver leaf much here but we do get black knot, which is awful if the variety is quite susceptible.

[sunshineband]

If I can get out tomorrow to the GC I can buy some seal & heal , break open muy pruning saw... and wait for a dry still day 


Thank you everyone.. that's a plan  :happy: