About 2.5 years ago, I ordered some fruit trees (2 plum, 2 apple, peach and nectarine) from Stark Bros. Nursery. They looked like small broom handles at the time, but have really flourished and I got some peaches and nectarines last year. I pruned some back in Feb/March, but I noticed yesterday that they're still filling in toward the center, especially the plum trees. I mean they're growing like crazy. I'd like to thin them a little more, but didn't know if doing it now would cause more harm than good. Looking on-line I've found plenty of conflicting info, so I figured I'd ask ya'll for some opinions. Thanks!
Have you called the nursery you purchased the trees from? I bet they can give you spot on information.
Trim them and spray any wound over 1/4" with pruning seal paint. Plums prefer to be bushes rather than trees, and they will if you let them go.
Not an expert, but I did stay at the Holiday Inn Express.
I have apricot, peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple and pecan trees. I only trim in the fall after the leaves have fallen and save the trimmings to add to the pit when smoking brisket.
I know some who trim year round, but I don't. JMHO
I have apricot, peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple and pecan trees. I only trim in the fall after the leaves have fallen and save the trimmings to add to the pit when smoking brisket.
I know some who trim year round, but I don't. JMHO
Are you happy with your trees from Stark? I got an end of season e-mail from them and am tempted to order a couple of peach trees ...
I've been very happy so far. About three years ago, I ordered 2 apple and 2 plum trees from them...bear in mind that this was my first attempt at planting fruit trees. I planted them in my chicken pen, which is about 50'x50', and they grew really well all through a brutal summer. At the end of the summer, with no warning, all four of them kicked the bucket. I spoke with Stark Bros. and that winter they replaced all four trees. I planted those in early '12, along with a peach tree which a neighbor gave me and a nectarine I ordered from Stark. Last year I got my first peaches and nectarines. The peaches were great, but the nectarines were amazing.
When I received the trees from Stark they were all bare-root, and looked like little broom handles sticking out of the ground about 3' when I planted them. Now they're all 10-12' and growing like crazy. The peach and nectarine are loaded, and I got my first apple blossoms this spring. I don't spray at all, so I'm curious to see what kind of harvest I get this year.
Putting them in the chicken pen has worked out beautifully. The trees get plenty of fertilizer and the chickens get some shade and help control a lot of the insects.
I've been under the impression that fruit trees have a tendency to prune themselves while fruiting. Just finish cutting off the branches that break under the weight. 
Here's a couple of pics. In the first pic from left to right: plum, apple, apple, plum, nectarine. In the second the nectarine is on the left and the peach on the right.
Spoke with a lady at the county extension office, and she said judicious pruning is okay, but its more important to thin out the fruit to prevent disease and overloading the branches.
Spoke with a lady at the county extension office, and she said judicious pruning is okay, but its more important to thin out the fruit to prevent disease and overloading the branches.
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