Trees - Plum
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  I have an ornamental purple leaf plum tree that in the past has usually produced plums. Last season it had so many that the limbs were weighted down. This year it has very few plums, I’m sure due to the heavy load last season. Do these trees need pruning like regular fruit trees, and if so, when and how much needs to come off? They are growing more than usual this year, and I’m worried they will get too large.

  Purple leaf plum trees are desired as ornamental trees because of their attractive spring flowers and their purple foliage which they retain all season. Although not grown for their fruits, they often set a steady crop, which have a nice flavor and are often used for jams and jellies. Because you have few fruits this year, more energy is going into growing. If you want to prune, do so as soon as possible. I normally recommend pruning as soon as possible after bloom in the spring, to allow them a chance to recover and set flower buds in the late summer. They do not require the rigorous pruning as the fruiting varieties, and should never be pruned prior to bloom, since you are growing it as an ornamental.

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