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3 year old Plum Tree, Trying to Shape

david_clark4david_clark4 Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg
The tree in the picture has two main branches and will not fruit well this year being too young.   
Question is I would like to train it into a goblet shape with four main branches.
Any ideas.
Could I cut where the orange line is, so I encourage growth. 

Posts

  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I'm no expert pruner, but that looks a bit low to me - I'd be looking more at above the second outward facing bud on each of the two branches above.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2021
    I agree with @stephentame  That’s too low. You already have the makings of a good framework of branches. 

    I’d remove that awkward little twisted twig with the blue ring around it. It doesn’t look at all promising. Let the tree concentrate on forming a good ‘head’ of branches at the top of the trunk. 

    You won’t get a good goblet  shape lower down anyway as the tree is so close to the fence and  the light will be uneven around the tree. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Plums and cherries should only be pruned in summer so don't do anything now in any case. It looks like you have a cherry planted fairly close to the plum which will compromise both in the future. Think about the expected mature size of each tree and you will see the problems which may lie ahead.
  • david_clark4david_clark4 Posts: 10
    The tree is in very large pot. Just wondering how I could encourage a couple more main branches. Thanks for the replies. David
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I would think you could encourage a couple more main branches by pruning the two main branches you have by pruning:
    -higher up on those 2 main branches
    -later in the year
  • david_clark4david_clark4 Posts: 10
    Thanks for your advice, much appreciated. 
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