[MLysiak]

Thanks Stonehenge for the forum and all participants, this is a must visit site daily for me. It's comforting to know others are in the same boat.

My question(s) for anyone who knows is-
(1)When is the best time of the year for annual pruning of Plumb trees( to maintain shape and size)
(2) When is best time of year to make same tree smaller. (it's too large for the space.)

Every year I have to remove 6'-7' shoots from this tree in July /August just before an annual Golf tournament, this means standing on a 12' step ladder and using a pole trimmer just about fully extended one shoot at a time.(I'm getting to old for this balancing act)

Come to think of it -same two questions for a clump Birch.
Zone 5 Upstate NY.

Thanks,

[landscaeproblemsolvr]

Purple Plum Trees flower in the spring so any pruning done before this time will remove flowers for the spring show. That being said, if the tree is simply to big for its space and you would like to simply cut it back hard, the best time would be in the winter. Jan-Feb.

At this time the roots have stored up a lot of energy for the spring leaf flush and flowering. Cutting back heavy in the winter will allow all energy to be put into replacing new growth.

If the tree is not healthy, I would not cut back very hard as it will not grow back as fast. If the tree is healthy, cut back as needed and it will recover with little problem.

Remember, Purple Plum trees seem to be a shallowed rooted and tend to blow over easily in heavy winds. Keep an eye on your trees and stake as needed.

Good luck-Todd