Kitchen Garden Forum

My damson trees carried a very heavy crop but the problem is they are so tall I can only reach a few branches to pick them. Shaking the tree did not work too well - brought down too much rubbish!

Does anyone know whether it is possible to reduce the height of branches successsfully please.

Probably not if they're old, established trees. If they're new ones on tall stock rather than dwarf - ask JB!

I think the rule of thumb is the less pruning the better, as they are very susceptible to disease getting in the wounds, especially Siler Leaf.

I think he means Silver Leaf......he is OLD Herbaceous after all...........

Thanyou on both accounts Tigger, i'm glad someone keeps me in check.

with silver leaf the advise is only to prune when the sap is flowing, spring being ideal. winter being a no no
having said that early his summer i had to "prune" some 40 foot cherry plum trees, a few of the 18 inch diameter stumps were left at about 4ft tall, over the summer they have both thrown vigerous new growth which it is intended will trim to a 6 foot or so hedge.

we also have an old plum tree in the garden which yielded heavily this year and broke several branches, over the past couple of years the trunk has also started to split , this has had a drastic prune in the last month to drastically reduce the height and the volume of the top, if it wasnt done a good gale would have snapped it off, as it is now it should be able to survive for a few more years.

if the tree is basically healthy with an established vigerous root system they will recover from quite drastic pruning.