I like to create a vase shape for stonefruits. Don’t try to shape a tree to look like a picture, rather aim for excellent light distribution and a good fit for the space your tree occupies. Pictures are too tidy, but a useful spring board. My little pruning book sets it out in full.

In these few short paragraphs I can only give but an over view. Know that you will have many questions as you prune. Counter intuitive, but oh so true, and not easily done when faced with a big tree that you’d like nothing more than to bring to its knees! When trees are lacking vigour, cut them right back to inspire strong growth next season. Here’s the thing – every cut you make elicits a response from the tree. Its heaps easier to clearly see where light needs to penetrate with all the leaves on, bringing courage and confidence for the pipfruit winter prune. Summer pruning is great to do if you’re a beginner. There will be ever less growth the spring following, as long as you don’t prune too hard! The tree has used all its carbs on leaves + fruits + new shoots and there’s not alot left in the tank. Those of you wishing to tame your stonefruit – prune immediately after harvest. Pruning them now has a few advantages – it gives you surety against silverleaf disease because there are no spores on the wing at this time of year, it spreads out the pruning jobs which I am grateful for every year, but best of all – it reduces the trees growth response.

Plums, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Almonds and Cherries are all best pruned in summer after they finish fruiting.

Pruning plum trees download