On 5/11/11 11:54 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote:
Darren Wingham wrote:

Any more tips on plum tree care greatly appreciated.

Now that everyhone has had a good laugh, you need to tell us where the
tree is. That is, what is your climate, which determines when you
should prune the tree.

For pruning stone fruit trees knowing the climate is really not
necessary, that they grow there tells the climate, obviously. Pruning
is best accomplished according to season and growing habit.
"always prune plum trees when they are growing strongly, mid-June is a
good time."
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_...ch_2e_plum.asp

Ornamental (non-fruiting) stone fruits should be pruned just after they
flower. After pruning, the new growth in late spring and summer will
produce next year's flowers. Pruning too late will remove next year's
flowers.

Fruiting stone fruits are pruned while dormant. In my climate, that is
in January. Then, I can most easily tell which is new fruiting wood snd
thin it without removing all of it. Where winters produce snow and
freezes, pruning should be done just before buds open. Then, you can
remove wood that failed to survived the winter in addition to thinning
new fruiting wood.

Many varieties of plum do not really require significant pruning. They
only require corrective pruning: removing dead, broken, or crossing
branches.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary