Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Opal plum lopping time ?

Superrad49Superrad49 Posts: 42
in Fruit & veg
I need some help please !
I have an 8 year old plum tree ( Variety Opal) from which we need to remove a large branch ( approx size of lower arm in diameter) as this will impede a gate. My problem is that I cannot remember when it will be the best time to do this. Should I do it now while it is completely dormant or wait until it is really necessary which will be about the middle of March ?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The advice for pruning members of the plum/prunus family is never to prune in winter as this encourages a problem called silver leaf which can kill the tree.

    Best to leave it as late as possible then.   Spring should be fine - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=339   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Superrad49Superrad49 Posts: 42
    Many thanks....I will leave it as late as I can then....wasn't looking forward to doing it in this cold weather !
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited January 2020
    Nice when the correct answer is one you were hoping for isn't it! :)
    If the branch is more than an inch thick, make sure you remove it properly or tearing the bark and causing serious damage is possible.  Here's a youtube clip which shows how to do it (skip to 30s in):

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Sign In or Register to comment.