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Pruning Victoria Plum Tree
Hi, we have a 4 year old plum tree which has produced a couple of dozen fruits this year. It's not a particularly good shape so I've been looking to see when to prune - this is where it gets confusing. Some websites say June thru Aug, NEVER in the winter, yet some say NEVER in summer, it should be winter when the tree is dormant. We live in France so different weather conditions than UK, hot/dry in summer, blooming freezing in winter.
Any suggestions would be most welcome - many thanks.
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Plums and other prunus trees should be pruned May/June/July - never in the winter.
Pruning them in the winter makes them very susceptible to contracting Silver Leaf Disease.
More information here https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=339
Hope that helps
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Many thanks for that, will get the secateurs out
Noooooooo!!! It's nearly September! Wait until spring/early summer! Too late now.
The idea is that in the spring/early summer the sap is rising/flowing and any Silver Leaf spores that land on the cut surfaces will be 'washed off' by the flowing sap.
From now onwards unti spring, the sap is 'falling' and any spores landing on cut surfaces have easier entry into the plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Glad I'm a procrastinator
I would be but I can't be bothered.