Plum pruning in autumn is mandatory after harvest, from mid-September. In the first two or three years, the skeletal branching of the crown is formed, excess branches that can thicken it are weakened or removed. At the same time, annual growths are shortened and the tops of the strongest shoots are cut off, on which there are spurs with underdeveloped buds and necessarily with frozen wood in order to strengthen branching.
Plum, planting and care, the pruning of which is very similar to similar procedures for tree cherry, is a deciduous stone crop. Its height in some regions reaches seven meters. When the tree enters the normal fruiting period, pruning of plum in the fall is carried out to maintain the strength of its growth. In addition, for normal development, the crown is strongly thinned, thickening, as well as interwoven or shaded branches, are removed, and sent to empty seats.
Pruning the old plum is also necessary in order to prepare the tree for wintering, so it is also of a sanitary nature. Dry and broken branches infected with the disease or insects are removed. In general, some gardeners, when a dangerous pest is identified, pruning an old tree is carried out regardless of the season of the year. This is done in order to avoid damage to neighboring crops.
Some plum varieties that bear fruit on short sprigs, for example, the Zyuzinsky variety, develop very quickly into large trees with powerful branches. It is more correct to cut them off according to the discharged-tier system with impressive distances between the processes, avoiding sharp angles of departure from the main trunk.
Already in the fourth year, during initial fruiting and strong growth, reaching up to seventy centimeters, pruning pruning in the fall consists in shortening annual growths to a quarter of their length in order to enhance the development of spurs and branching. Otherwise, the lower part of the crown will be underdeveloped. At the same time, the Spurs, remaining weak, quickly die out, and this affects the yield.
Plum pruning in autumn is done on the basis of what shape the crown needs to be obtained: bushy, pyramidal for dwarf or palm-tree varieties, as well as for tall trees. Much attention during this process should be given to reducing the risk of white rot and gum disease. Therefore, cuts on the drain must be done very carefully so as not to accidentally harm the wood using a sharp knife, saw or pruner. After this "wound" is covered with garden var. At the same time, sick, dried and broken branches need to be burned.
Those varieties of this culture that bear fruit on their elongated growths from the side buds, such as Iskra, Skorospelka, Pamyat Timiryazev, etc., need to be molded both by bush-like and tier systems with mandatory thinning. In this case, pruning of plums in autumn is carried out depending on the age of the branches, therefore, pruning should be done in different ways. One-year-old shoots are shortened according to a single principle.
Proper and competent pruning of plums in the fall contributes to a good harvest, especially since of all the stone fruits, this fruit tree is easiest to tolerate this process.