The close relationship between mirabelle plums and plums results in similar pruning care. All Prunus species benefit from regular pruning aimed at young, high-yielding fruiting wood. You can find out here when and how to prune a Mirabelle plum tree.

Always use clean and sharp tools when pruning trees

The best time is in autumn

A strong flow of rubber is decisive for the choice of date. Like all types of stone fruit, an apricot tree will bleed profusely if you prune the crown mid-growing. The fruit tree is more forgiving if you prune in October or November.

As a further advantage, a leafless crown provides a better overview for the perfect cut. Last but not least, an autumn pruning time is in line with the Federal Nature Conservation Act, which prescribes the period from October 1st to February 28th for pruning.

Cut Mirabelle plums every 2 years

Starting with the third year you should cut your plum tree every two years. The focus of pruning care is on all four to five-year-old shoots whose earning power has been exhausted. The most valuable treasure of the fruit tree crown are the two to three year old shoots, which should not be overshadowed by dead wood or sterile wood shoots. With this cut you can:

  • Aged, drooping branches point to a lower-lying side shoot
  • Prune thick competitive shoots to the main branches to 10 cm short cones
  • Shorten deadwood, steep shoots and branches growing into the crown to 5-10 cm

Unbranched long shoots from this season do not yet show in autumn whether they will flower and bear fruit. Cut back the affected branches by a maximum of one third from a length of 20 centimeters. If the growth is directed steeply upwards, tie the shoot horizontally. This year's shoots under 20 centimeters remain uncut.

Distinguish fertile from sterile shoots

The key to success in high-yield fruit tree pruning is distinguishing between fertile and infertile branches. The following overview summarizes which characteristics you use to distinguish valuable fruit wood from sterile shoots in the Mirabelle plum tree:

  • Barren wood shoots: exclusively bears pointed, slender shoot buds
  • Mixed branch: ideal mix of thick flower buds and narrow shoot buds
  • Fruit cane: prominent flower buds, terminal shoot bud on the up to 30 cm long branch
  • Fruit spike: 5 to 6 flower buds on a 2-5 cm short shoot, often with a single shoot bud at the end

The primary aim of pruning is to achieve a balance between fertile and sterile branches. Ideally, both variants should balance each other within a crown. An oversupply of fruitwood results in puny fruit. If infertile wood shoots dominate, you will struggle with low harvest yields.

tips

With a well-formed crown, a plum tree thrives as a feast for the eyes. The straight trunk extension takes on a key function, so that three to four valuable leading branches develop as a framework. When planting, drive a support stake up to 2.50 meters long into the ground next to the young tree. Use soft binding material that does not cut into the bark to guide the sprouting trunk extension vertically upwards.

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Trees