Trees you receive from Stark Bro’s have been pruned in the nursery row for proper shaping, but correct pruning must continue at home. The natural shape of a fruit tree is not always the best for maximum fruit production. Even more important, your fruit tree needs to be shaped.After a single growing season, a tree you prune will be bigger than a matching unpruned tree. In addition, cutting the tree back stimulates stronger, more vigorous growth from the remaining buds.A good reference book, such as Pruning Made Easy, can be invaluable for answering questions and guiding you through the pruning process. In Zone 6 and farther north, you should wait until late winter. Plan to prune your fruit trees during every dormant season. The only pruning done at this time would be any broken branches or roots. Because of this, you DO NOT need to prune them again when you plant.
When your Stark Bro’s bare root tree arrives, our professionals have already pre-pruned your tree for you. Pruning helps balance the top growth of your tree with the root system, giving the roots time to re-establish in your yard before spring growth. For more information read our guide to tools for pruning, and if you’re looking to update your kit, our experts have been busy testing the best pruning saws, the best secateurs and the best anvil loppers, so you can buy with confidence.When your tree is dug up from our fields to be shipped to you, the root ball loses many of its tiny feeder roots, which are needed to absorb moisture and nutrients. Whether it’s a pair of long-handled loppers, pruning saw or secateurs, using the right tool is essential for this task. Heavy pruning can also affect cropping, as fruits are produced on one- or two-year-old shoots. If your plum tree is unproductive or is only producing fruit every two years (known as biennial bearing), the cause may be lack of moisture at the roots, or a late frost affecting the flowers in spring. Each pruning cut will result in several thin shoots growing – these will need to be thinned the following summer. If you want to renovate an old, neglected plum tree, do it gradually, over several years. Also pull up any suckers that are growing from the base, and grub out any buds growing on the trunk. P rune the branches by about a third, then prune away shoots growing into the centre of the tree, plus any that are dead, damaged or crossing. Prune to create an open, wine glass shape. Again, the aim is to keep the tree a manageable size and shape, while allowing the fruit to ripen. Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards.
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