STIHL tip
The optimal pruning time may be different depending on the fruit tree type. So find out more about when and how to best get your fruit tree in shape. A course at a local horticultural association or college can boost your confidence here.
Plum tree pruning – tips and instructions
Pruning plum trees is essential for the health of the tree and for a good crop of fruit. Find out more about how to prune!
05.03.2025
Overview: pruning plum trees
- With the right pruning, you can achieve a healthy tree with abundant blossom and fruiting
- Appropriate cuts can also prevent tree diseases and even extend the life of the tree
- The right pruning approach depends on the age of the tree
- You must observe the period during which the German Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits pruning
For pruning a plum tree you need various tools, including secateurs, pruning shears for smaller branches, and possibly a tree saw for particularly thick or hard-to-reach branches.
In addition, suitable protective equipment is important, as well as a stable ladder and a rope so you can safely reach and pull down higher branches.
The ideal time to prune varies depending on the type of pruning.
Plum trees should be initially pruned in the spring following planting; development pruning is done in summer; and maintenance and rejuvenation pruning are carried out when the tree is at rest in winter and there are no leaves to get in your way.
You should prune a plum tree regularly to support its health and productivity. Young trees require annual pruning (initial and development pruning) in the first few years after planting.
Once mature, established trees benefit from maintenance pruning every 1-2 years and, if necessary, rejuvenation pruning every few years.
Some of the most common plum tree pruning mistakes include:
- Never pruning a plum tree
- Pruning at the wrong time of year
- Cutting back too hard
- Pruning branches too close to the fork of a branch
On a plum tree, you should trim the side branches; also, if it is a standard with a tall central stem, you should also shorten the tip.
How far you can cut back a plum tree depends on the pruning approach and the age of the tree.
While young trees can be cut back more vigorously, you should be more restrained with established trees to avoid weakening the plant too much.
Plums and damsons are different subspecies of the Prunus genus.
Plum trees bear rounded fruits which have a distinct cleft and soft flesh.
Damson trees, on the other hand, yield more oval, elongated fruits with smooth skin and firm flesh. However, both types of tree have similar requirements in terms of location and care, and they are pruned similarly.
There are many reasons why you should prune your plum tree regularly:
- Increased yield
- Improved fruit quality
- Controls tree size
- Promotes new growth
- Prevents illnesses
- Longevity of the tree
Pruning a plum tree – when is the best time?
Knowing the ideal pruning time is essential for the health and fruit production of your plum tree – and also depends largely on the pruning technique you use.
The following table gives an overview of when you should prune plum trees. Please note that the calendar refers to both the times and the respective age of the tree. In addition, the overview is based on rough empirical values and should not be regarded as a strict rule.
| Month | Pruning recommended |
|---|---|
| January | Limited |
| February | Yes |
| March | Yes |
| April | No |
| May | No |
| June | No |
| July | Yes |
| August | Yes |
| September | No |
| October | No |
| November | No |
| December | No |
Initial pruning: Plum tree initial pruning takes place after planting. By pruning your plum tree in late winter or spring, you are aiming to prepare the tree for strong growth in the season ahead.
By the way: although it is often recommended, it can be problematic to prune plum trees in late winter. This is because healing is worse in winter, before new growth has formed; this is because it is only with and after the formation of new shoots that the substances necessary for wound healing are present throughout the tree, and so are available to support faster closing of wounds. So watch your plum tree closely and see what works well.
Summer pruning: Summer pruning of plum trees focuses on removing water shoots, i.e. thin, vertical growth, and lightly thinning out the tree to ensure light and air can get to the fruits.
Development pruning: This technique is crucial for young trees to develop their shape and structure.
Maintenance and rejuvenation pruning: Maintenance and rejuvenation cuts are ideally carried out during the tree’s resting phase. That means you should prune your plum tree in winter, to remove old and diseased wood and prepare the tree for the next growth period.
To prune your plum tree correctly, you should not carry out any cutting during the spring flowering season and the autumn harvest season. This avoids stressing the tree and impairing fruit production.
Before you get started: how to prepare
A dry, windless day offers perfect conditions for pruning a plum tree. Before you start cutting, thoroughly inspect the tree for diseased or dead branches, pests and other abnormalities. Also carefully consider which branches should be removed to avoid accidentally cutting off fruit-bearing branches. Also make sure that the area around the tree is free of obstacles.
The right tool and accessories
To trim the plum tree safely and efficiently, you should always use appropriate tools and accessories. The following tools will help you with the different types of cutting.
How to prune a prune tree – and what to use for the task When cutting your plum tree, do not crush or tear off the branches. In addition to pruning shears and secateurs, the GTA 26 battery-powered garden pruner is ideal for pruning a plum tree. It is ergonomic to handle and enables a precise cut.
You can also use a tree saw for very thick branches – however, a saw should not be the first choice because of the wounds it leaves on the tree. Remember to disinfect your equipment before pruning to avoid tree diseases.
Our tip: Generally speaking, it is better to use hand tools in combination with a stable ladder rather than telescopic tools, as you will have more control and can more easily achieve your desired result.
Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing.
Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with STIHL power tools. Find out more in the STIHL owners manuals for your product. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use.
On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working.
Powerful helpers for plum tree pruning
Initial pruning: early-life support for your plum tree
Initial pruning is a crucial step in shaping the young plum tree and positively influencing its future growth direction and fruit production.
- Select central leader: Select a strong, healthy stem to be the main stem and remove all competing shoots. The central leader should be straight and strong to provide a stable structure for the growing tree.
- Shorten side shoots: Shorten the side stems, which will serve as future leaders, to about one-third of their length. Make sure that all cuts are clean and made above an outward-facing bud to promote outward growth.
- Shorten side leaders: Shorten the selected leader stems to about one-third of their length to stimulate the formation of fruit-bearing boughs. Be sure to cut above an outward-facing bud.
Cut the main stem back to about 30 cm above the height of the shortened side leaders. Now the crown has basically been defined. - Remove unwanted growth: Remove any other shoots that could compete with the leaders or grow in unwanted directions (e.g. inwards or too close to the ground).
- Correct misdevelopments: Look out for any misdevelopments or damage to the tree, and correct these with targeted cuts.
- Monitor wound healing: Check the cut surfaces throughout the year for healthy wound healing and possible signs of disease or pests.
Development pruning: Shaping the plum tree
Development pruning is essential for . The aim with this pruning technique is to shape the tree in its first five years of life and achieve a balanced distribution of branches.
- Define central leader: Determine a central leader stem that forms the main axis of the tree. Shorten or remove competing stems.
- Select side leaders: Choose 3-4 strong and evenly distributed side shoots at different heights to serve as branch leaders.
- Remove unwanted growth: Remove all other side shoots when pruning your plum tree – especially those that grow inwards or are too close to each other to ensure good ventilation and sunlight.
- Remove water shoots: Remove water shoots (vertically growing shoots) and tree suckers (weak, steeply growing shoots) from the plum tree to concentrate the energy of the tree on the main stems.
Maintenance pruning: Keeping the plum tree healthy
You can use maintenance pruning to keep a mature plum tree healthy and productive so that you can enjoy your tree for a long time. This pruning technique focuses on preserving a tree’s already-established structure.
- Remove dead and diseased wood: Trim back all dead, damaged or diseased branches and stems to maintain the health of the tree and prevent the spread of disease.
- Enable light and air to penetrate: Remove crossing, inward-growing or touching branches to ensure good crown exposure and ventilation.
- Trim branches that are too long: Cut back excessively long branches to concentrate the tree’s energy on fruit formation and minimise the risk of branch breakage.
- Encourage fruit-bearing boughs: Trim back older fruiting branches to promote young, fertile wood and maintain the tree’s yield capacity.
- Thin the crown: Remove selected branches completely to avoid an overly dense crown and to allow even distribution of the fruit.
Rejuvenation pruning: Rescuing a neglected plum tree
Rejuvenation cuts can be used to prune a neglected, old plum tree and extend its life. The right time to do it is in winter, before the formation of new growth.
However, as a rule you should avoid radically pruning your plum tree – i.e. trying to make up for years of neglected pruning all at once – you may significantly cut back even strong branches, which will result in wounds that would be preventable with continuous tree care.
- Remove old wood: Identify older, damaged and diseased branches that bear little to no fruit and remove them at the base or shorten them considerably.
- Thin the crown: Thin out the crown thoroughly to ensure better ventilation and light supply.
- Shorten main branches: Shorten a few of the remaining main branches to encourage new growth. Make sure that the cuts are clean and made above an outward-facing bud.
Get started right away with your new knowledge and ensure that your plum tree will give you an abundant, delicious crop for many years to come.
