How to prune plum blossoms
As the first of the most famous traditional flowers in China, plum pruning directly affects the flowering quality and tree beauty. Many horticulturists often cause plants to grow long or flowers to be sparse due to improper pruning. Mastering scientific pruning methods can make plum blossoms strong and flowers flourish and leaves luxuriant. This article will explain the pruning tips in detail from three core links to help you create your ideal plum blossom landscape. The core steps of plum pruning are terminal bud management skills. Plum blossoms have obvious advantages at the top, and the top buds need to be dealt with during the spring germination period. When the new shoots grow to 15-20cm, choose sunny days for picking: keep 3-5 plump buds at the base and cut off the top 1/3 of the shoots. This operation can promote the differentiation of lateral branches and avoid the excessive growth of "towering branches". Pay special attention to thinning inward buds and crossed buds, and retain 2-3 strong buds growing outward at 45 degrees per main branch. Timing of handling residual flowers Within 7 days after the flowers fade is the golden period for pruning residual flowers. Use disinfectant scissors to cut diagonally along the base of the receptacle to retain a 1cm short branch. Simultaneous removal of withered and old leaves at this time can reduce the risk of gray mold infection. Pay attention to the differences between early-flowering varieties (such as cinnabar plum) and late-flowering varieties (such as green-calyx plum): the former can be pruned immediately after flowering, while the latter can be operated after the inflorescences have completely withered. The branch shaping system adopts the "three main and six sides" cultivation method during the young tree stage: select 3 main branches with a 120-degree distribution, and each main branch has 2 lateral branches. Reserve 8-10 short cuts of bud points on annual branches to promote the germination of new branches at the base. Adult trees are pruned in a "five-layer progressive" manner: the bottom branches remain 40cm long, and each upper layer decreases by 10cm to form a tower-like light-transmitting structure. The branches of pests and diseases must be cut off at the root, and a healing agent must be applied to the incision to prevent the invasion of bacteria.
The special shape needs to be combined with aluminum wire coil binding, and bent and shaped when the branches are semi-lignified (May to June). Cliff-style shapes should retain downwardly extending branches, while literati styles emphasize the meandering degree of branches, and cloth strips need to be used to protect the bark after each bend.
Plum pruning is both a technique and an art. It needs to follow the four-season maintenance rules of "promoting hair in spring, setting shape in summer, cultivating branches in autumn, and thinning in winter." It is recommended to use high-phosphorus potassium fertilizer in conjunction with it to enhance tree vitality, and spray carbendazim after pruning to prevent diseases. After mastering these skills, you will be able to create a fine plum blossom that combines natural wildness and artificial beauty, so that the spirit of the frost and the snow can be perfectly displayed on the branches.