Plum tree trimming

[Unfortunate Fool]

Hi All,

 

Continuing with my lack of tree skills, I’ve clumsily managed to  shape my plum tree into a spindly, witchy mess. When plums appear, those spindly branches are overladen with weight and, well, it just looks a mess.

 

Would someone be able to advice me on the best way to reshape this mess into something more robust and ultimately fruit-bearing?

 

Thanks,

 

UF

[organic guy]

Not an expert, more answering through interest to stimulate the experts to reply for my own knowledge.

I would cut back all the tall straggly bits now to get growth down lower for next year.

Now to see if I get shot down!

[Stere]

 

 

Id just trim the tips & any crossing branches now at the height that suits you (Depends on  how tall  your ladder is for harvesting?) the remaining tree structure will thicken up after a few yrs.

 

 

 

  Quote

spindly branches are overladen

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Propping up branches with "hazel cloth line props" etc is what I do  or you could also consider thinning  out the  fruit.

 

Edited April 12 by Stere

[windowcleaner]

following as i have a customer with one asking me about doing this

[slack ma girdle]

  On 10/04/2025 at 08:48, Unfortunate Fool said:

Hi All,

 

Continuing with my lack of tree skills, I’ve clumsily managed to  shape my plum tree into a spindly, witchy mess. When plums appear, those spindly branches are overladen with weight and, well, it just looks a mess.

 

Would someone be able to advice me on the best way to reshape this mess into something more robust and ultimately fruit-bearing?

 

Thanks,

 

UF

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The reason your tree is doing this is your dreadful hacking.

All of the growth is fast grown, and hasn't had time to put on structural wood to support itself. Every time you cut more off, you are just stimulating more of this floppy fast growth.

Leave the tree alone for a couple of years to calm down, and then very slowly over the next 10-15 years remove small amounts of top growth. Or cut the tree down and start again.

 

[sime42]

It's probably worth pointing out the risks of Silver Leaf as well. Better to do any kind of pruning work on Prunus trees when, (if), the weather is set fine and dry. The fungal spots are more prevalent during damp or wet weather. So it's normally done during mid-summer.