[zaren]

Not sure how to title this, sorry!

I got an Opal Plum tree delivered yesterday from an eBay nursery, got tonnes of good reviews so thought it'd be a decent bet to get a good fruit tree (since I've no idea what the hell I'm buying...).

Anyway, planted it yesterday just after it was delivered, but it definitely doesn't look like I thought it should. I've sent a photo to the supplier to query it, but just wanted to ask your knowledgable selves if this is what you'd expect it to look like so depending on their reply, I've got some basic understanding of what I'm saying 

There's lots of side branches at the bottom, starting about 20cm up, then nothing from half way to the top of the plant (a good 2 foot of no side branches). I was expecting it to have been pruned and to have a few side shoots at the top, rather than look very bottom heavy. I've no idea where I'd even start with pruning without stripping the whole thing back. Please ignore the fallen beast in the background, the fence panel is back up now so thankfully can't see the poor old tree (deal with that another day!    )

Help, and thank you!

[mumofstig]

I assume it's been left like that for you to prune it to the shape you want. If you were planting it against a wall/fence/wires you would want to keep the bottom branches to make a fan shaped tree.

If you want a tree with a trunk then prune the bottom branches off to leave bare the length of trunk you want and cut 20-30cm off the top, this will force more buds to break into growth to give you more branches as the tree grows.

[Lardman]

It's a feathered madien, and doesn't look too bad to me. https://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/maiden-fruit-trees.htm

If you look at the top section you'll probably see it's all last years growth, what rootstock is it on?  if it's something wimpy like pixy you might want to leave those lower branches on !

[zaren]

Thank you both for replying so fast! As you can see, I have no idea what I'm talking about 

That link is great, thank you Lardman. I was trying to find something that would explain what I'd got, but I was failing and all the pictures I could find looked top heavy!

It's on St Julien A, so shouldn't be tiny (I hope!). Any advice on how best to prune it?

Thank you again!

[Lardman]

Best not to ask me about pruning plums  I've killed so many I've lot count, in fact yours will probably keel over and die now, simply because I've seen a picture of it 

Here's a nice simple guide.

Ken Muir Guide

[zaren]

Haha! At least I'll have someone else to blame if it dies now... 

Thank you, will take a look!

[Mr Dog]

I'm sure you've spotted in the link to the Ken Muir guide provided by Lardman not to prune just yet to minimise risk of silver leaf.

[zaren]

Yes I did spot that Mr Dog, but thanks for reminding me just in case Really appreciate the advice from everyone!