June 14, 2025 Peter van Dijk

Pruning a Plum Tree

Garden plants not only bring color and atmosphere to your outdoor space, but also contribute to biodiversity and the pleasure of gardening. A special plant that offers both ornamental value and tasty fruit is the Plum tree (Prunus domestica). This versatile fruit tree, which blooms profusely in spring and yields delicious fruit in summer, is a valuable addition to any garden, whether large or compact.

To fully enjoy your plum tree, proper maintenance is essential. Regular pruning promotes fruit set, prevents diseases, and keeps the tree healthy. In this blog, you will read exactly when, how, and why you should prune a plum tree – whether it concerns a young, wild, or older tree.

When to Prune a Plum Tree?

Plum Tree Summer Pruning (July – September)

The best time to prune a plum tree is the summer, preferably immediately after the harvest or in the months of August and September. During this period, the sap flow is less active, causing pruning wounds to heal faster. The risk of fungal diseases is also lower due to the warmer and drier weather.

During summer pruning, you mainly remove branches that cause too much shade in the crown, dead or damaged branches, and crossing shoots. This pruning helps keep the tree open and airy, which is beneficial for both the health of the tree and the quality of the fruit.

Plum Tree Gentle Spring Pruning (April – May)

Although summer is preferred, you can perform light maintenance pruning in the early spring. This is primarily intended to make minor corrections: removing dead or inward-growing branches and maintaining a nice shape. Please note: never prune in freezing temperatures and avoid wet weather to prevent infections.

How to Prune a Plum Tree?

Pruning a plum tree is not difficult, but it does require attention, knowledge, and the right garden tools. By proceeding correctly, you ensure good air circulation, sufficient light penetration into the crown, and strong, fruit-bearing branches that bear fruit for years.

Step-by-step plan for pruning a Plum tree:

Preparation: Begin by cleaning and sharpening your garden tools. Use sharp pruning shears, lopping shears, and possibly a small handsaw. Clean cuts reduce the risk of infections.
Remove dead and diseased wood: First, look closely at branches that are dried out, damaged, or diseased, and remove them completely.
Thin out the crown: Ensure that sufficient light and air can reach the heart of the tree. Remove crossing or inward-growing branches.
Maintain the structure: Keep a few strong main branches (framework branches) that are distributed in a beautiful, open shape.
Prune above an outer bud: Always cut shoots above a bud that points outwards, so that the new growth develops outwards.
Be careful with young shoots: You can keep young shoots that are promising for the coming years. Pay attention to balance in the tree.
Prune in moderation: Remove a maximum of 20 to 30% of the crown per year. Pruning too rigorously leads to growth stress and uncontrolled growth.
Pay attention to weather conditions: Prune on a dry day without frost or rain to promote wound healing.

Pruning a Wild Plum Tree

A wild plum tree has often not been pruned for years, resulting in a dense, unwieldy crown and reduced fruit production. Such trees may also suffer more from diseases and insect infestations.

Start by removing dead, diseased, and damaged branches.
Next, remove branches that grow inwards or cross each other.
Prune gradually, spread over several years, so that the tree can recover.
In the first year, focus primarily on opening up the crown.
In the years that follow, you can further balance the tree.

Pruning a Young Plum Tree

With a young plum tree, the emphasis is on building a good tree structure. This usually happens in the first three to five years after planting.

Choose a central trunk and 3 to 5 side branches (framework branches) that are evenly distributed.
Remove competing branches and excessively steep upward shoots.
If necessary, shorten the central trunk to limit height growth and side shoots stimulate.
Prune lightly every year to maintain the desired shape and develop a stable crown structure.

Pruning Plum Tree Framework Branches

Framework branches are the load-bearing skeletal structure of the tree. Well-pruned scaffold branches ensure stability and a balanced distribution of the fruit.

Choose 3 to 5 scaffold branches with sufficient spacing in height and direction.
Keep them free from competing or inward-growing side branches.
Shorten scaffold branches that are too long to maintain the balance in the crown preserve.
Check annually for damage, leaning, or splits.

Pruning a Diseased Plum Tree

A diseased plum tree must be pruned with extra care. Common diseases include silver leaf, gumming, fruit rot, and bacterial diseases.

Remove affected branches well into the healthy wood.
Clean your pruning tools with alcohol or a bleach solution after every pruning wound.
Avoid pruning during damp weather: fungal spores spread then faster.
If necessary, apply wound sealant to larger pruning wounds (although opinions differ on this).
Never leave diseased branches on the compost heap; dispose of them or burn them.

Pruning an Old Plum Tree

An old plum tree often has less vigor and produces fewer fruits. However, with the right pruning, it can become vital again.

Start by removing dead, diseased, or scab-infested wood.
Gradually thin out the crown over a period of 2 to 3 years.
Stimulate the formation of new fertile shoots by selectively pruning.
Always use sharp tools to avoid ragged pruning wounds.
Maintain an open crown structure for maximum light penetration.

Plum Tree Care after Pruning

After pruning, the tree needs time to recover. Proper aftercare aids in healthy wound healing and stimulates growth.

Give the plum tree extra water during dry periods, especially for young or recently pruned trees.
Fertilize the *plum tree in the spring with organic fertilizers or compost.
Keep the soil around the trunk free of weeds and grass.
Use a layer of mulch to retain moisture and replenish nutrients.
Check for new shoots, infections, or wound problems in the weeks following pruning.

A well-pruned plum tree produces healthy fruit year after year, has an open, graceful shape, and is more resistant to diseases.