How to Prune Plum Trees in New Zealand
Plums are an annual summer treat. The stone fruits are similar to other fruit trees in their need for sun, heat, good soil and proper pruning. Correct pruning technique and timing are essential to plum tree production rate and quality of fruit. June is the best time to prune plum trees in New Zealand. The time is important because it can help avoid introduction of silver leaf disease. Pruning a plum tree is simply removing this year's growth since it will not produce fruit. Shaping the tree to keep a wineglass form, and keep the tree open in the center. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place the tarp around the base of the tree. It will help to make cleanup easier by catching debris during your pruning project. Use the tool sharpener to hone your pruners. Sharpen them after big, hard cuts and intermittently during the pruning to ensure clean cuts. You will likely be pruning two prune trees, as most prunes need a pollinator tree of the same species.
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Put on the gloves to protect your hands from sharp bits of wood and splinters. Set up the ladder on a level area close to the plum tree. Take a good look at the tree from a distance of 10 to 15 feet away. Consider the shape, how tangled the interior of the crown is and if it needs to be reduced in height for any reason. European and Japanese plums are common fruit types in New Zealand. The Japanese plums are self-fertile.
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Cut out all deadwood and broken branches. New growth that comes off the ends of last year's branches needs to be cut to 12 inches. New growth that comes off the main center leader should be cut to 6 inches. When making any cuts, do the pruning just above a healthy shoot. Angle the cut slightly away from the bud below so moisture doesn't continuously drip onto the shoot and rot it.
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Look for and remove any branches that are rubbing against each other or are crossed. Clean the interior of the tree to create air circulation for the remaining branches and the coming fruit. About 45 varieties of plums were introduced to New Zealand in the 1980s and '90s. Most of the varieties were found to be unsuitable for New Zealand, and some are "lost" cultivars.
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