How to stop a plum tree taking over?

[PatDIY_Dad]

Does anyone know much about fruit trees here?

This plum tree is getting out of control growing everywhere it can

I first noticed small single shoots growing left of it , then noticed one popped up in my lawn

Now it'd about to engulf this smaller plant

What can be done without killing it?

 

 

[Jason]

Hi @PatDIY_Dad,

The Bunnings team has a helpful guide for you: How to grow and care for a plum tree. It includes information on pruning, and recommends young trees are pruned in winter.

Let me tag @Noelle to see if she has advice on whether it is too late to prune this tree this year. It might be helpful if you let Noelle know where you are based.

All the best,

Jason

[Noelle]

Hi @PatDIY_Dad 

Your plum tree is producing multitudes of suckers from the roots a=of the rootstock on to which the desired fruiting variety has been grafted. These suckers should all be removed as soon as they are noticed, as they will be of a more vigorous type that the fruiting top growth and will ultimately take over completely.

If allowed to remain, the suckers will take most of the moisture and nutrients available with the result that the fruiting variety on top will be starved out.

Try to cut the suckers below ground level, where they emerge from the roots. Check for new suckers every few weeks.

[PatDIY_Dad]

THanks for the reply @Noelle 

We did prune the tree mid to late winter

Then at the start of spring when it started flowing all these new shoots started growing

I did this last year but not as bad. Its getting more evasive each year

I supposed I cannot put round up on the suckers as this will affect the whole tree right?

Would prunning those as low as possible just encourage more suckers to grow up?

Is there anyway to prevent it?

[Noelle]

Hi again @PatDIY_Dad 

No you cannot use weedkiller of any sort on the suckers as they are attached to the same root system as the rest of the tree, and you will end up killing the entire tree..

Pruning off the suckers is essential if you want to keep the fruiting variety 'up top'. Cutting them off may encourage even more to grow for a few years but eventually they will give up. Not cutting them off means the existing and new ones will continue to grow more prolifically and far more vigorously until they have swamped everything in the garden along the root run.

[PatDIY_Dad]

Thanks for the reply

As long as they will eventually stop sprouting if I keep on top of it thats fine

I thought it would just get worse forever by prunning the suckers. How long do you think if you were to estimate?

[MitchellMc]

It's had to tell @PatDIY_Dad. You need to cut them off as soon as they appear. If you let them grow, they'll think there is hope.   

After at least two to three years, there is a good chance they'll stop.

Mitchell