How to prune cherry plums correctly in summer: diagrams, steps and tips on the topic

Anyone who has already encountered a problem when a cherry plum planted on a plot becomes “harmful” and produces only small fruits understands how important it is to properly care for this demanding plant. When selecting gardening procedures, it is important to observe the characteristics of the crop so that all measures taken will benefit the future harvest.

Is it possible to prune cherry plum in summer?

Summer pruning of cherry plum is a useful procedure for fruit trees that have reached 5 years of age. It is contraindicated for younger plants due to possible trauma and subsequent slowdown in crop development.

Purposes of pruning

A correctly performed procedure brings great benefits:

• shoots begin to grow more evenly;
• skeletal branches become fruit-bearing;
• the resulting harvest is larger and of higher quality.

Is this necessary?

Some gardeners argue whether it is necessary to prune the cherry plum in the summer, because during this period the plant accumulates the greatest amount of useful substances, and removing branches deprives the tree of valuable elements. The procedure is recommended if spring pruning did not bring the desired result and the crown of the cherry plum is not formed correctly.

Deadlines

The timing of summer pruning directly depends on the beginning of the active movement of sap inside the tree and the activity of pathogenic organisms. A procedure carried out at the wrong time will not only not improve the condition of the plant, but will also increase the risk of infection with fungal diseases.The most favorable time for removing branches and shoots is June - early June, when pathogens are not yet too active.

Favorable days

It is better to prune branches early in the morning and on cool days. Don't wait for bright sunlight.

Important! The less often summer pruning is done, the better. Only diseased branches and shoots growing inside the crown are removed.

According to the lunar calendar for 2020, favorable days for pruning shoots in August are 6-7, 15, 20-26, 29.

Types of pruning

The future health and appearance of the cherry plum will depend on how the crown is corrected. Depending on the purpose of pruning, there are different types of pruning:

1. Formative. It is performed in the early stages of the plant’s life (in the second year after planting the seedling) to form the correct crown. Branches and shoots developing towards the trunk are removed.
2. Restorative. The plant is restored by removing pest-infested, diseased, dry and damaged branches.
3. Regulatory. It is used when it is necessary to thin out a crown that is too thick—some of the leaves and fruits do not receive light.
4. Rejuvenating. It is recommended to carry out if a decrease in yield is noticed. The procedure provokes the formation of new shoots.

Any type of pruning is carried out using special antiseptic drugs - this will reduce the likelihood of developing diseases.

How to trim a tree correctly

Before carrying out the procedure, prepare equipment, choose the correct pruning scheme and think through the process itself down to the smallest detail.

Required materials and tools

Experienced gardeners recommend using:

• pruner;
• loppers;
• garden hacksaw;
• antiseptic.

You should also wear gloves to protect your hands from damage and injury.

Trimming schemes

There are 3 plum pruning schemes. The diagram clearly shows how to do this correctly, and how it is undesirable. If done incorrectly, the expected effect will not be achieved and the plant will be damaged.

Important! After summer correction of the crown, the plant has a hard time recovering - removing branches greatly weakens the cherry plum. Pruning should be done as little as possible.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Preparation of the necessary equipment.
2. Choosing the right day for the procedure.
3. Selecting the required type of plum pruning.
4. Anti-aging pruning is carried out gradually. In the first year, old and dry branches are removed. In the second, healthy ones are corrected by thinning the crown. In the third, a third of the skeletal branches are removed.
5. Formative. Remove branches that grow vertically and deep into the crown.

Features of pruning depending on the type of tree

Cherry plum is sensitive to external conditions and physical impact, so the procedure should be carried out taking into account certain factors.

Depending on the age of the cherry plum

Summer pruning is carried out on a plant that has reached the age of 3 years, with a significant reduction in branch growth. When the tree reaches 5-6 years of age, it is advisable to carry out anti-aging pruning provided that development has completely stopped. 25 years after planting cherry plum Rejuvenating correction is mandatory in lean years so that the crop has time to recover.

Attention! To correct the crown of the cherry plum, only a sharp instrument is used, otherwise dull equipment will injure the bark and cause the development of diseases.

Depending on the growing region

Since the beginning and duration of the summer season vary significantly in different regions of the country, the time for pruning cherry plums is chosen individually.For example, in the Altai Territory, summer pruning begins at the end of May, and in the Arkhangelsk Region - in mid-June. You should also maintain a certain crown shape: in areas with cold winters, vase-shaped pruning is practiced, in the middle zone - bush-shaped and pyramidal pruning.

Further care of the plant

After summer pruning, the splayed plum needs the following care:

1. Treatment of cut areas with at least 5 mm thick garden varnish and antiseptic to prevent fungal diseases.
2. Water the cherry plum abundantly with warm water.
3. Application of mineral and organic fertilizers depending on the growing season. In the fall - organic matter, in the spring - nitrogen, and in the summer - phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
4. Cut branches and shoots are burned.

In one procedure, you should not remove more than 1/3 of the branches of the plant, otherwise this will negatively affect the health of the cherry plum.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners share their experience with beginners:

1. Don't be afraid to thin out branches on very dense plants. A dense plum crown harms the harvest, significantly reducing its quantity, and provokes the development of fungal diseases.
2. It is not recommended to do pruning in the cold season - the plant will not tolerate the removal of branches. At low temperatures, open cuts do not overgrow.
3. When correcting the crown of cherry plum, one should take into account variety. For example, the Kuban comet often loses yield if there are a large number of dry branches. Therefore, anti-aging pruning is a priority. Columnar cherry plum is characterized by strong growth, so it is recommended to remove shoots growing in different directions.

This is interesting:

Rules for propagating cherry plum cuttings in summer and stages of growing a tree from a twig
Is it possible to grow cherry plum from a seed at home and how to do it
When and how to propagate rose hips by cuttings in the summer correctly

Conclusion

Pruning cherry plums is an important part of care that should not be neglected. An incorrectly carried out procedure reduces the effectiveness of all fertilizing, treatments against diseases and other care measures.