how to properly prune a purple leaf plum
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (28)
Sara Malone Zone 9b
11 years ago
whaas_5a
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Purple Leaf Plum Hedge
Comments (1)Sounds like most of them are dead or in bad shape. June is pretty late to be planting bareroot stock, probably even in Zone 5. Get out your receipt. Arbitrary top pruning (whacking the whole thing back) at planting time is not beneficial....See MorePurple Leaf Plum Tree suckers
Comments (7)Ironically, I have the opposite challenge: a semi-desperate quest to propagate an heroic purple plum before it is completely dead. No luck, so far, in germinating pits or in rooting cuttings. The fruit comprises the prettiest and tastiest plums I've experienced in half a century; foliage is lovely, and the tree plows on through the searing, arid climate. Borers love it to death, too, though, and I gather that fruit trees can be rather short-lived, anyway. Maybe the edge-of-the-desert conditions in north Texas suppress "suckers" here: I've never seen a single one in a decade-and-a-half or so....See MorePruning a multi-stem purple leaf with bare middle
Comments (2)did you notice how extreme last winter was??? ... that is the most likely answer ... and it didnt help.. that it was probably still suffering from drought .. not to mention its planted next to a driveway.. and reflected winter sun and retained heat is not helpful ... lol.. you are lucky its alive .. lol speaking of which.. its an extremely short lived plant ... 10 to 15 years max ... and i am thinking yours is around 10 years old??? .. they suffer from black knot and gummosis ... see link its also planted a bit close to the house for its potential.. which is the basis of your complaint ... yes you could learn how to prune on it ... but??? would you consider removal and planting something better ...??? i suspect... it might start suckering wildly from the bottom as a reaction to its stresses... and that would be multiplied if you start cutting hard on it what do you think?? ken ps: if you are interested in learning pruning.. this would be a great plant to experiment on.. but keeping in the back of your mind... that it will.. most likely.. have to go ...so you cant really do wrong ... Here is a link that might be useful: link...See MoreTrees in need
Comments (17)I would say do the opposite of ken's initial recommendation. Skip the expensive certified arborist and hire the redneck with the chainsaw. I don't think any of those trees are salvageable or worth special efforts based on those pictures. The cherry and the plums may just be end-of-life. Some trees are robust and can bounce back from major issues, but spruce and fruit trees are not among them....See More
botann
11 years ago
Cher
11 years ago
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
11 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
11 years agowhaas_5a
11 years ago
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
11 years agobotann
11 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years agowisconsitom
9 years agotlbean2004
9 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
eaga
9 years agoalabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
9 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agocecily
8 years agowhaas_5a
8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
PROCaldwell Home & Garden
7 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years ago
Related Stories
WINTER GARDENINGCalifornia Gardener's January Checklist
Winter-defying blooms and pruning saws earn a cheer, while California-focused gardening design books get a well-deserved shout-out
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESHerb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint
Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDES8 Flowers That Dazzle With Fall Color
From flaming orange to supersaturated purple, these blooming beauties will set your fall garden ablaze with vivid hues
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESLet Lilac Love Flower This Spring
Whatever you bestow or receive for Mother's Day, lilacs can be an unmatched gift in the garden in May
Full Story
TREES11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form
With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting
Full Story
SPRING GARDENINGSpring Gardens Are Waking — Here’s What to Do in March
Excitement fills the air when gardens come back to life. These guides will help you make the most of yours
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESThese Hedges Can Add Interest to Your Winter Garden
Evergreen trees and shrubs provide structure and color in the winter months — and can attract wildlife too
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESSouthwest Gardener's June Checklist
Protect your plants from too much sun while waiting for rain relief, and guess what? Those cacti might need a drink
Full Story
EDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes
Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard
Full Story
NATIVE PLANTSAutumn Joy: How to Get 3 Months of Fall Flowers
Enjoy blooms from September to November by mixing 6 asters native to different areas of the U.S.
Full Story
tlbean2004