Pruning Damson Tree

[lavenderpixie]

Hi, I wonder if any gardeners out there could help me please?
I bought a Merryweather damson tree (rootstock:St JulienA Pixy) in March and planted it in the garden, its done well and grown quite a bit, in fact its starting to look very tall and spindly. I'm looking for advice on how and when to prune it - thanks.

[Margaret Pilkington]

According to Dr Google...pruning should be done april to September.....so you could do it now(except Monty Don thinks it is unnecessary)......and I have added a link to Monty Don's instructions on how to do this as I feel you might find this useful.

I should say that I know nothing about damsons except they are delicious in jam.
I am terrible with growing thins I can even kill artificial plants.
I hope this helps.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gar...2069140/ASK-MO

[lavenderpixie]

Thanks Margaret, I have seen this link while searching online - it doesn't give me any details of how to prune a new tree, which is what I'm after but thanks for posting.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Having read the article, it seems that Monty Don doesn't really think pruning is a good idea....he thinks the trees should be a bit rangy.
I am pretty sure that there will be YouTube stuff that shows How to do it.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Pruning young fruit trees.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by lavenderpixie

Hi, I wonder if any gardeners out there could help me please?
I bought a Merryweather damson tree (rootstock:St JulienA Pixy) in March and planted it in the garden, its done well and grown quite a bit, in fact its starting to look very tall and spindly. I'm looking for advice on how and when to prune it - thanks.

Hi there, I planted two Apple trees ,Two Pear trees and two Plum trees on my allotment in November 2016, the plums,(one a Victoria and the other a Damson) are on dwarf rootstocks, as is your's on a (St Julien A pixi) rootstock but they can still reach up to 15 feet in height. all were planted as two year olds, the plums have yet to bear fruit but then again they will not start cropping for another 12 months or so. I only prune the Apples and Pears to keep them at a manageable height. the plums are now possibly 12 feet tall, so I suppose it depends on the size of your garden.
I have no doubt that if you search the web for how to prune plum trees, there will be any amount of information there.
I hope this is of some help.
Your's, The Lancashire Luddite.

[taddy]

As it happens, my wife has just nipped down to Aldi, (to buy, yes, some Plums) in order to make some chutney)

[lavenderpixie]

Thanks for that video Margaret it has helped me a lot.

[Margaret Pilkington]

you are welcome...glad it helped.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by taddy

As it happens, my wife has just nipped down to Aldi, (to buy, yes, some Plums) in order to make some chutney)

Been down the allotment today, checked the Damson planted in November 2016 as a two year old sapling, Ha Ha, it has just started fruiting,(counted two,yes two berries on it, happy days (for maybe next year).

[Margaret Pilkington]

Always good to have a pair Taddy.

[taddy]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Always good to have a pair Taddy.

I would normally have an answer to that but as this is a family site I shall refrain.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Taddy...don't worry...I can imagine it...my imagination is very well honed.

[Exile on Spencer St]

If you’re still thinking about, Pixie, my RHS book on pruning suggests you don’t do anything in the first summer.
Then, Nov - March (nearest to date you planted in, I guess, to give it maximum time to establish itself) prune back four or so branches, that have formed wide angles with the stem, by half to two thirds.
After that, it looks like just tidying up laterals below the branches and removing any suckers.
I’ve always understood established damsons and plums don’t take well to pruning as silver leaf is always a risk.

[taddy]

Cheers Exile.