Posted by usenet on January 31, 2005, 9:30 am
We have a large (for a family/garden) orchard of about 60 mixed apple,
plum, pear and cherry trees. This year, having mostly caught up with
the more serious things that need[ed] doing it looks as if we may
actually have some time to do some pruning rather than just cutting
off the dead bits.
I've searched on the internet and have found some quite useful places
describing how to prune but there seems to be a lot of disagreement
about one thing - when should one prune plum (and cherry) trees?
The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when to
prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune in
May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one site
that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in winter,
mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid pruning in May and
September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
Vary confusing! I hope I don't start an interminable thread but I
would really appreciate some guidance.
--
Chris Green
Posted by anton on January 31, 2005, 12:08 pm
> We have a large (for a family/garden) orchard of about 60 mixed apple,
> plum, pear and cherry trees. This year, having mostly caught up with
> the more serious things that need[ed] doing it looks as if we may
> actually have some time to do some pruning rather than just cutting
> off the dead bits.
> I've searched on the internet and have found some quite useful places
> describing how to prune but there seems to be a lot of disagreement
> about one thing - when should one prune plum (and cherry) trees?
> The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when to
> prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune in
> May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one site
> that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in winter,
> mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid pruning in May and
> September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
> Vary confusing! I hope I don't start an interminable thread but I
> would really appreciate some guidance.
Harry Baker's RHs 'fruit' says never prune in winter. Ken Muir's 'Grow your
own fruit' says don't prune in the dormant season. A time-served plum
expert I met once said prune in April. I suggest that you publicise the
site that says the opposite.
Pruning advice differs very markedly across climates according to the pests
and diseases that are prevalent, as well as the simple plant growth/
fruitfulness issues.
--
Anton
--
Anton
Posted by usenet on February 1, 2005, 7:30 am
[snip]
> > The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when to
> > prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune in
> > May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one site
> > that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in winter,
> > mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid pruning in May and
> > September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
> >
> > Vary confusing! I hope I don't start an interminable thread but I
> > would really appreciate some guidance.
>
> Harry Baker's RHs 'fruit' says never prune in winter. Ken Muir's 'Grow your
> own fruit' says don't prune in the dormant season. A time-served plum
> expert I met once said prune in April. I suggest that you publicise the
> site that says the opposite.
>
It's:-
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_march_2d_plum.asp
(watch for wrapping, if you don't use Mozilla/Firefox)
It specifically refers to silver leaf disease but gives the months I
referred to above.
> Pruning advice differs very markedly across climates according to the pests
> and diseases that are prevalent, as well as the simple plant growth/
> fruitfulness issues.
>
> --
> Anton
>
>
--
Chris Green
Posted by Mike Lyle on February 1, 2005, 7:51 am
usenet@isbd.co.uk wrote:
> [snip]
>>> The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when
to
>>> prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune
in
>>> May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one
site
>>> that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in
>>> winter, mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid
pruning
>>> in May and September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
>>>
>>> Vary confusing! I hope I don't start an interminable thread but
I
>>> would really appreciate some guidance.
>>
>> Harry Baker's RHs 'fruit' says never prune in winter. Ken Muir's
>> 'Grow your own fruit' says don't prune in the dormant season. A
>> time-served plum expert I met once said prune in April. I suggest
>> that you publicise the site that says the opposite.
>>
> It's:-
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_march_2d_plum.asp
> (watch for wrapping, if you don't use Mozilla/Firefox)
> It specifically refers to silver leaf disease but gives the months
I
> referred to above.
[...]
Very interesting. He seems to define young trees as three years old
and younger. Mid-December for young trees, and June for established
ones. The instructions are so uncompromising that there must be some
reasoning behind them, but this reasoning he doesn't give, and I
don't get it myself. I've emailed the site to ask.
Mike.
Posted by anton on February 1, 2005, 3:32 pm
> [snip]
> > > The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when to
> > > prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune in
> > > May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one site
> > > that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in winter,
> > > mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid pruning in May and
> > > September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
> >
> It's:-
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_march_2d_plum.asp
> (watch for wrapping, if you don't use Mozilla/Firefox)
> It specifically refers to silver leaf disease but gives the months I
> referred to above.
I've emailed them to ask who their plum expert is.
--
Anton
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> plum, pear and cherry trees. This year, having mostly caught up with
> the more serious things that need[ed] doing it looks as if we may
> actually have some time to do some pruning rather than just cutting
> off the dead bits.
> I've searched on the internet and have found some quite useful places
> describing how to prune but there seems to be a lot of disagreement
> about one thing - when should one prune plum (and cherry) trees?
> The issue is silver leaf disease but there's no agreement on when to
> prune to avoid it. Some sites say don't prune in winter, prune in
> May, however other sites say almost the opposite. I found one site
> that said "To avoid silver leaf disease, prune young trees in winter,
> mid-December is a good time. For older trees, avoid pruning in May and
> September to October." (What's 'young' and 'old'?)
> Vary confusing! I hope I don't start an interminable thread but I
> would really appreciate some guidance.