North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Idell Weydemeyer" <iwgarden@earthlink.net>]

 

In cold areas, as another writer mentioned, late pruning can cause growth susceptible to frost--

 

However, in other parts of the country with warmer winter weather, the 2^nd set of summer pruning (or even the first set if it was not accomplished in May or June) is done August into mid September. I find summer pruning is great for keeping plants small since it shrinks the current supply of leaves (which then cannot work to store food for the winter). In winter pruning, the plant already has stored food and after pruning a plant, it springs forth with loads of new growth when the weather warms. That is fine when I am trying to invigorate a tree but not good at all if I am trying to keep it small--around 7 feet or less.

 

Idell Weydemeyer

Zone 9a

 

 

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From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jwlehman@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 7:47 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Summer pruning

 

In a message dated 8/21/2010 12:31:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, billg@inebraska.com writes:

So is it too late to prune these plum trees now?

And will it do any good, anyway, this late in the summer? My intent with
it has always been to try to keep the trees small (which is especially
hard with my Toka plum). I keep the branches only a little above
horizontal, which means that I have very long vertical shoots growing up
everywhere on those trees which are especially vigorous. Should I still
cut them back now, or just wait for dormant pruning next spring?

Hi Bill,

I do not consider myself very knowledgeable on plum & peach matters, but will take a stab at this, seeing you question isn't answered after one day's wait.

No, I wouldn't prune them now. It might promote new unwanted growth now. Secondly they wouldn't heal over the wound, thus leaving the wood unprotected and exposed until next summer.  Also removing the branches would remove leaves needed to help build up energy for the root system needed next spring.

Jerry