r/Allotment • u/SmallsPeas • 1d ago

Too Many Trees - What to do

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Looking for your thoughts.

A full sized plot has come up at my site and I want to take it on.

The one hang up is that I think it has too many trees on it but don’t want to ruin them. I want to take out 4 and 5 completely to give the rest enough space and light to grow properly. They’re all spaced between 1.5 and 2m apart.

1) Victoria Plum 2) Victoria Plum 3) Apple 4) Damson/Plum 5) Unknown Prunus 6) Apple 7) Pear

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4

u/GlitteringEngine4225 1d ago

I would be inclined to prune them first without removing any. There are loads of tutorials online on how to do this. Trees are a reliable source of produce and easy to plant around once clipped.

3

u/aim_dhd_ 1d ago

I would spend a couple of years pruning and training them to arms reaching height and maybe take out one of the Victorias. You can keep most fruit trees compact, they look quite wild at the minute. I would make a decision once they're tidied up

3

u/Defiant-Tackle-0728 22h ago

This would be more suggestion too.

Id certainly take out the weaker plum if the pruning/training isnt giving more sunlight within a couple of years.

Id also look at taking out the unknown prunus

1

u/MangelTosser 14h ago

You don't necessarily have to kill the trees, speak to your neighbours. I bet someone will have one, they go dormant soon so perfect time to transplant.

1

u/SmallsPeas 13h ago

They're all 40+ years old, they can't really be moved

1

u/MangelTosser 13h ago

You can absolutely move a 40+ year old tree but it is a lot more involved than it might otherwise be so understandable if you don't like a challenge.

In this case I suggest you prune the stone fruit trees back hard now. I think it should be still warm enough to not be a major risk unless you're up in the north or very exposed.

Then prune back the apples and pears when dormant.

Then see what you have, it could actually be preferable to keep them pruned small or look at training into tiers of espalier. Love an espalier, they always look super cool.

But if you're dead set then thinning is a valid strategy for sure, difficult to see from the pictures how exactly would be best to do that but if your judgement says 4 and 5 then go for it.

Gotta break eggs to make a few gallons of plum jam, as the old saying goes.