One of the components of the care for cherry plum is pruning, which not only helps the formation of its crown, but also contributes to an increase in yield and life span. This process is very important for the tree, so anyone who wants to enjoy these fruits should know when and how to do it.
How to trim a cherry plum?
Pruning of cherry plum is best carried out in the middle of spring (late March - April), until the buds are blooming on it. Due to the fact that sap flow at this time on the tree is still not strong, wounds will soon heal. Pruning is carried out annually, depending on the age of the tree, only the number of branches removed varies.
The most important goal that must be achieved as a result of pruning is the correct arrangement of branches. To do this, remove those that grow close to each other, touch or just become too long. It is always necessary to cut out all diseased and dry branches, in order to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the tree.
The crown of a plum can be formed according to the type of a bush or a low tree. In the first case, it will only be necessary to thin the crown and shorten the shoots. In the second - first (the first 3-4 years) a sparse-longline crown is formed, and then only it will be necessary to maintain its shape. It is recommended that the main branches (they should be 5-7 pieces) are made at a height of 75-80 cm from the ground level.
Very important is the good illumination of the crown, obtained with annual pruning, for hybrid varieties of cherry plums , such as large-fruited "Kuban comet" or "Sarmatka". This is due to the fact that when thickening branches, the fruits become small and sometimes even noticeably change color.
When cutting plum tree, it is necessary to take into account that when it is severely circumcised, it begins to grow more rapidly, so this method can be used only on weakly growing trees or branches.