Photo: Karduelis, Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Fruit plant
Date-plum: when and how to prune
Diospyros lotus
Date-plum is best pruned in January–February.
| Pruning months | January–February |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Outside it |
| Flowering | June |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Date-plum: when to prune it?
In January–February, while the tree is bare. It hardly needs pruning.
Date-plum: how to prune it?
- Train a young tree with a straight trunk and three to five well-spaced main branches.
- Later, remove only dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches.
- Remove shoots growing low on the trunk or around the base.
- Do not prune too hard: heavy pruning gives lots of leafy growth and less fruit.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: January–February.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- The pruning months fall outside the nesting season (15 March–15 August), so you won’t disturb nesting birds.
- Date-plum flowers in June, when it attracts bees.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.