help needed Pembina Plum-pruning/training I have a three year old pembina plum. My main problem with it is the top half of the main stem can not support itself. It droops big time. I have cut the main back the last two years but it has not helped. If I remove the stake the top half completly droops. I only have the top half staked to help it grow (training) straight. The bottom half of the tree is about as round as a silver dollar but the top half is very, very small (abut 2 cm). Also any help on how to prune the tree would be very helpful as it is a droopy variety of plum. The tree is about 9 feet tall. If I was to remove the stake four feet of the tree will droop...bend to form a half circle. Any feedback would be great.
9' tall now and leggy with little lateral branching, is what I am assuming, will not be a good shape to continue on with. Clip the top back now and be done with it. New top growth will grow back but it is time to now train this tree for its eventual desired shape later. You may want to provide a photo or two of this tree so that others can join in and tell how they would prune this tree. Jim
The leader has grown 4 feet this summer and is green. It requires a stake to hold it up right (the stake is running up 3/4 of the leader but is not in the ground). Without the stake the top half of the tree bends down so much that it almost touches the ground. Is this normal or should I remove the stake and head it back until the leader no longer bends the tree down? The Plum was damaged from the hail a couple days ago but is doing fairly well.
Here are a few things to consider. If the tree is left to grow like it is what kind of shape do you perceive it will have in another 10-12 years? Have you read up on the Pembina Plum and realize that you will probably have to have a pollinizer, another Plum to help your tree produce Plums? I would want to control the shape of this tree starting right now. How I would prune a production tree will be different than how I would prune a tree in a home garden. I would want to limit the top leader growth for a while as I am not sure this tree will fill out with enough side shoots for you in the near future. I would cut the top back to fence level and snip the rangy side laterals near the bottom in half wanting to promote more even growth towards the top and middle of this tree. Others may have better ideas for how you should deal and prune your tree for your location and climate but I think a consensus will be that you cut the top back some now or while this tree is dormant or you risk the top getting too far away from you rather soon. Jim
I do have two pollinators for it. Thanks for the advice on pruning the top. I have cut it back the previous two years. Also the two bottom side laterals have been cut back this year to the halfway point but the tree is vigorous in its growth and has reach the size it was before the cut. I will be removing them both. I will also be pruning the leader back to fence level also. I imagine it is best to prune in early spring?? I have heard that fall is also a good time? I have also been told that it would be alright to prune it back now?
The best time to prune a Plum is when the tree is dormant but try not to do it in freezing weather. I will Summer prune some trees right after harvest if need be. Now is not a bad time to make quick adjustments such as topping the tree and cutting out overgrown limbs. We try not to prune Fruit Trees at all in the Spring here. Glad you have some Plum pollinizers. Good going! Enjoy having your Plums. Jim
Thank you for all your help. I ended up removing the tree as when I headed it and unstaked the tree I noticed that the leader was growning at a 65 degree angle. It also had alot of bark damage. Now that I know alot more about fruit trees I will make sure that I buy one that has a straight leader and no damage. Lesson learnt the hard way :)
