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Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012
It's 15 years old and I have to prune a 3" branch in the next week or so to make room for a couple of new beehives. They have to be sited before my first swarm cells start (which was April 11 last year)
Will it help if I paint the wound with bitumen paint?
Richard
Opinions differ on that - some will say yes, some no. But it definitely will help if you pick the dryest and warmest day possible.
I guess you don't have any alternative but to do it now, but plum trees should really be pruned in summer to minmimise the possibility of a fungal infection.
The RHS recommends not using wound sealants as it believes these increase the chance of infection, because fungi finding their way into gaps betweeen the sealant and wound have a nice sheltered damp environment in which they thrive, whereas a cut left exposed to the elements dries quickly. (A bit like leaving a sticking plaster on a cut on your finger for several weeks, I guess.)
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by flowerchild (U14083640) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
I found this:
Trees look after themselves very well! For some further information google Alex Shigo.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by chrisbucks (U14300604) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
If you've really got no choice, prune it as late as possible - the day before the beehives arrive? - but leave a stump 3-4 inches long. Use sealant if you want, and then prune it back again once it's come into leaf a couple of inches further back. If fungi has set in, you would be very unlucky if its travelled more than an inch into the wood in three months, and by taking off two inches, you should be taking the pruning back to good wood at the right time of the year.
Now that's 'thinking', Chrisbucks
, in reply to message 6.
Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
Thank you for your replies, with the weather as it is the hives have to be ready by end of March.
Chrisbucks suggestion is totally feasible as I can easily leave a 12" stump.
Richard
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