Hi,
I pruned and trained my 2 year-old Santa Rosa Plum to a modified central leader. Currently has four whorled scaffolding branches. I am starting to question my decision, especially since the recommendation is have a vase-shape for Japanese plums. Can anyone share their experience having Prunus species as modified central leaders?
I will try to upload a picture in the future. Thanks!
One thing I experienced with my first prune plum was that it could outgrow my pruning errors. I cut it this way and that and eventually ended up with a very neat corkscrew shape that bore a lot of great fruit. Not textbook at all, but a very satisfying little tree.
I do like vases though, and Richard’s guide above makes a ton of sense. But you can leave your plum as is and still get a lot of excellent fruit, and a handsome tree.
If the four whorled scaffold branches are a convenient height and well-placed and you want a vase what is to stop you from simply removing the leader? It would be nice to see your picture if you get a chance to upload one.
In any event, your tree will likely do well either way.
I have more pictures coming. In the above picture I put red dots on where the central leader and 4 scaffold branches end. I measured the height of central leader to be 114 inches (9.5 feet). Two of the scaffold branches appear to be intersecting in the photo; however, this is an optical illusion of the photo. Unlike peach trees, I read that heading cuts on plum trees aren’t worthwhile because they cause vigorous vegetative growth and branching. I want to establish a sturdy trunk and scaffolding branches.
I’d like advice on how to finish pruning. Should I make a heading cut on the central leader? I don’t think all the scaffolding branches will be present in years time because the tree isn’t perfectly balanced so this tree’s form is far from finished. For modified central leaders with whorled scaffolding branches I read that the scaffolding branches should be 15-20 cm apart vertically, is this correct?
I used a yard stick for scale on the 2nd and 3rd photos.
Nice-looking area you live in. It actually reminds me a little of northwest Arkansas where I grew up.
Myself I’d not let that plum get any taller. Eight or ten feet is plenty- any higher and it gets more difficult to tend. I use a ladder but prefer working from the ground when possible- it just makes life so much simpler!
So yes, I’d head back the leader. I think your existing scaffold branches have nice angles, but it’d be nice to have another scaffold or two at each level. You might encourage well-placed buds to sprout by knocking (notching) right above them. That involved cutting out a slice of bark right down to the wood. I make the slice three times as long as the diameter of the bud, so that there is one diameter overhand on each side of the bud.
And I’d head the branches back modestly, just removing a few inches, and cutting back to a bud that points in a convenient direction. You should get some secondary growth from the scaffolds then.
I like this site for instruction- it’s a very clear and readable piece on pruning:
http://www.avtreefarm.com/pdf/Fruit%20Tree%20Pruning%20Basics.pdf
Others may have better ideas than mine. Don’t hesitate to ignore my advice when you find something better!
:-)M
