Pruning Pyramid Trees

Prune in May to avoid the risk of silver leaf disease. The stem should should be cut back to approximately 60cm (2 ft) above soil level. Make the cut just above a bud. Remove the bud below the top bud, making sure that there at least three or four buds remaining below.

Maiden - Prune in May to avoid the risk of silver leaf disease. The stem should should be cut back to approximately 60cm (2 ft) above soil level. Make the cut just above a bud. Remove (rub out) the bud below the top bud, making sure that there at least three or four buds remaining below.

Second winter - In the second winter's pruning, cut back the main stem by about 45cm (18 in), just above a bud. Below this cut, there should be three or four buds above the branches from last year. Prune all the remaining branches so that they are about 25cm (10in) long. The cut should be immediately above a healthy looking bud.

Third winter - In the third winter's pruning, again cut back the main stem by about 45cm (18 in), just above a bud. Below this cut, there should be three or four buds above the branches from last year. Prune the branches which have grown this year so that they are about 25cm (10in) long. The cut should be immediately above a healthy looking bud.

Established plum trees should be pruned in June and the pruning is restricted to new growth not bearing fruit this year. The aim is to keep the tree size within the available space. Pinch out strong-growing side shoots (grown this year) to 6 leaves from their parent branch - this will encourage fruit next year. When the central stem gets to about 2.5 m (8ft) high, prune it back into old wood, 1m (3ft) above the highest branch.

Whilst pruning this new growth, look for any dead wood, prune this out and burn it.

Pruning Standard and Bush Plum Trees

The pruning of standard, half-standard and bush plum trees is the same with the exception of the height at which the main stem is pruned to encourage the formation of branches. The maiden tree main stem should be pruned in March to 1m (3ft) above soil level for a bush tree, to 1.2m (4ft) for a half-standard and to 1.9m (6ft) for a full standard tree. Thereafter, the pruning of all three forms is the same.

In the second year, the plum tree should again be pruned in April . All growth should be cut back (just above a healthy bud) to about 25cm (10in) from the main trunk. This may sound severe, but it will encourage new healthy growth next year. The new growth will come from the pruned branches.

In the third year, the plum tree should again be pruned in April . Prune the leading shoots back to 30cm (12in) from their main stem. Other shoots should be cut back to 15cm (6in) from their main stem. All shoots should be pruned just above a healthy shoot.

In the fourth and later years, prune in April . Cut all leading shoots back by about a third and all other shoots to 15cm (6in) from their main stem. Cut out all diseased or dead wood (and burn) and trim up any shoots which cross others. The aim is to go for a wine goblet shape. The centre of the tree should be kept un-crowded to allow air to circulate freely and let in light.

Harvesting and Storing Plums

Plum trees will begin to produce fruit at four or five years old. Like most fruit, leave the plums on the tree until they are ripe and ready to eat. Ripe plums will be produced over a month or so and it is best to pick a few but often over this time. Any diseased fruit should be removed immediately because they will only attract diseases and wasps.

Ripe plums keep for only a few days and are best stored in the fridge. If you want to keep plums for longer, pick them when they are slightly under-ripe, placing them in a paper-lined box in a cool dark place.

Pests and Diseases of Plums

Plum Sawfly - Small holes in the plums, sometimes with a gooey black liquid seeping from the holes. The young plums will fall before ripening fully.

Red Spider Mite - Leaves fall earlier than normal and are bronze in colour.

Rust - Slightly raised round spots on the underside of the leaves. The spots are rust coloured (browny-red).

Bacterial Canker - Shallow depressions at the base of branches during Autumn which enlarge in spring. An amber like gum may also appear.

Aphids - Leaves curl and new shoots are distorted.