Pruning For Prunes

Went to another workshop at Swansons this morning co-organized by City Fruit, promoting the production and maintenance of urban orchards and fruit trees in Seattle. I went so I could learn tips for caring for this very old plum tree on the property that hasn't been maintained for who knows how long.

Each year in the Spring, fruit trees should be pruned back to no more than a quarter of the total canopy surface. This is to promote fruit production and health, for purposes of increasing air circulation and greater light access. Branches situated at 45 degrees (rather than inward, vertical, horizontal or downward) are optimal for spaciousness. As can be seen in this photo the branching is heavy and mostly positioned horizontal or downward. The canopy is very dense.

Which makes a lot of sense because it's an old tree, and surely has a complex root system. The complex crown exists to balance it out. As can be seen in this photo, though, the tree was trained well in the beginning, there is good structure coming from the trunk. But at some point the maintenance was let go.

My task will be prune back the "4 D's", as Ingela the instructor put it, that is those parts of the branches dead, dying, diseased or deranged. All of the unnecessary complexity getting in the way of light, air and space. Cutting smartly, though, so I don't damage the tree by creating too many wounds. Carefully now. In the middle of March the moon will be in descent (waning) in the Saggitarrius constellation (warmth/fruit) which seems like a good time to battle the plums.