How to Prune a Plum Tree

9Plum trees generally are pruned in a vase type format. That means what you want to do is encourage the growth of a fairly short trunk and then encourage three or four major branches to splay off the top of that trunk at about a forty-five degree angle.

Now this is generally accomplished in the winter. In fact the very best time to prune plums is in the very late winter right before bud break. Because at that time, the wounds that you create have less time in which they have to heal before the tree starts to resume growth.

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Now a vase type arrangement is ideal for plums because it allows a great deal of sunlight to get to the interior of the tree and to get to the fruiting wood. And remember whenever you're pruning, whether it's a plum or any other deciduous tree, never ever leave a stump on the tree. You want to prune it right back to the next major, either to the trunk or to major branches.



A stump is a way that insects, disease and fungus can find their way into the tree. In addition to basic winter pruning, which I've just spoken of, you can also do some light summer pruning. For instance if you get over vigorous shoots, water sprouts or crossing or damaged branches, by all means take those out. However the major pruning, the major shaping of the tree should take place in late winter.  Happy growing !

Pruning Mature Apples and Pears

A good fruit tree should not make a good shade tree. However, when pruning is neglected, many apples and pears become better shade producers than fruit producers. Standard-sized trees often outgrow the reach of ladders or pruning hooks. Backyard and commercial growers have come to prefer dwarf or semi-dwarf trees which are not as tall and are easier to prune, spray, and harvest without the use of ladders.

A neglected but otherwise healthy tree will usually show a marked improvement in fruit quality as a result of pruning. Fruit buds begin developing in the growing season previous to the one in which they mature into fruit, and more are initiated than can be fully developed into fruit. Growing conditions during the season of bud initiation and the subsequent winter will affect the number of buds which flower, and certain cultivars are "alternate bearers" that seldom initiate many buds during a year with a heavy fruit crop. In any case, by late winter the buds for the coming summer's crop will be very evident. Buds only appear on two or three year-old twigs or spurs which are no thicker than a pencil.

The primary purpose of pruning is to increase sunlight penetration, remove less productive wood, and shape the crown into an efficient, stable form. If left unpruned, the quantity of fruit produced might be greater, but the quality much lower. Pruning increases fruit size, promotes uniform ripening, increases sugar content, and decreases disease and insect problems by allowing better spray coverage and faster drying following rainfall. It also allows easier access for timely harvesting.

When to Prune

The best time to prune is during late winter or early spring just before the beginning of active growth. If large blocks of trees are to be pruned, time it so that you finish just before bud break. It will not harm trees if sap is beginning to flow at the time you prune. The main reasons you should prune during the late dormant period are:

1. Wounds heal quickly when growth starts.
2. Undesirable branches and other wood to be pruned can be easily seen since there are no leaves on the tree.
3. The bark is less likely to tear when cuts are made.
4. Trees pruned in early winter may be damaged by low winter temperatures that occur after pruning.

Summer pruning may also be used to control growth of young trees, improve light quality in the fruiting z o n e, thin heavy fruit loads or remove water sprouts and other undesirable wood.

Planting an Avocado Tree

These are good tips from the masters :

Planting an avocado tree

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Is the avocado a vegetable or a fruit?

The avocado is widely considered a vegetable most commonly used in salads. However, it is actually a fruit that tastes like a vegetable, and most markets display it with other typical fruits.

In some areas, it is known as the avocado pear and also the alligator pear due to the pebbly, rough exterior of one of the common types. There are quite a few varieties of avocados with each person having a preference.

The fruit is harvested from tall trees, which grow in groves. The rich, pale yellow-green flesh of the pear-shaped fruit has a texture likened to a firm ripe banana, smooth and buttery, with a faintly nutty flavor.

Most avocados are grown in tropical climates, primarily in Mexico, California, Hawaii, and Florida. California is the number one producer of avocados in the United States, supplying 95% of the nation's crop, with 85% of the crop being of the Hass variety. Mexico is the world's leading producer of avocados. 

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Varieties of Avocadoes

A favorite for our dips and a must have for our meals, this fruit is primarily pear-shaped, but some varieties are also almost round. They can weigh from 1 ounce to up to 4 pounds each.

The most common types are: Bacon, Fuerte, Gwen, Hass, Pinkerton, Reed, and Zutano, with many chefs having a particular preference for the Hass variety.

Avocados are used not only in salads and the ever popular guacamole, but also in breads, desserts, main dishes, and in non-culinary creams for facials and body massages.

The Taiwanese eat avocados with milk and sugar. Indonesians mix them with milk, coffee, and rum for a cold libation. Filipinos puree them with sugar and milk to make a dessert drink.

Even the avocado tree leaves are used in some parts of Mexico. Both green and dried leaves can be used for wrapping tamales, or seasoning for barbecues and stews. Dried leaves will keep for several months in a tightly-closed container.

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Growing a Grape Tree

buyLook for the optimal location for planting your grape tree. Tropical plants do better in southern areas, near overhangs or under extending canopies of tall trees.

Till topsoil to loosen it to a depth of 6 inches. Dig a hole twice the size of the grape tree's root ball, but not deeper than the root ball. Mix the soil taken from the hole with compost. The backfill should consist of half soil and half backfill.

Water the bottom of the hole. Place the grape tree inside of the hole and re-pack the hole with the compost and dirt mixture. Build a berm around the grape tree 1 foot in diameter and 4 inches high, using the rest of the compost and dirt mixture.

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Fill the berm with water. Keep your grape tree's root ball moist, especially during the summer. Grape trees cannot survive any periods of drought. Press your fingers into the first 3 inches of soil to feel if it is moist. Apply water to the inside of the berm. To keep the root ball moist, you may need to water your grape tree up to three times a day.


Fertilize your grape tree annually at the beginning of its growing season by applying 4 inches of compost around the tree and about 1 foot away from the base.

Avoid spraying a herbicide anywhere near your grape tree, which cannot survive applications of chemicals like fertilizers or herbicides.