Spreading American plum thicket

[Ben.MN/WI]

I was parking my trailer next to a fenceline last night and noticed some plum suckers that were growing at least 30 feet from the original tree that I planted in 2013. I should note that I'm assuming these are suckers, but it is possible that this new growth is from some plum seeds that fell or were buried here. Those plums produce a massive amount of fruit every year now.

 

[PatinPA]

After reading this thread, I think my question is answered, but....
I have some plums that I caged and weed matted three years ago(entering 4th growing season), the ones that are protected have started growing out of the cages (see pics). Do I need to remove the weed mat for them to start suckering or will they just sucker outside the mat/cage? We have a high deer density with relatively low quality forage in the late fall/winter so any new unprotected growth is at a big risk. I plan to move the cage to protect the suckering when it starts.
When will suckering start and when should I expect fruit?
These are American plum variety located in SE MN.

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I planted some about 4-5 years ago. Have yet to see a sucker or a blossom for that matter.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

You might see a few flowers this spring or next. Once my plums hit about 6' tall, they start to flower and produce fruit. That's about the time that they start to send out suckers as well. It won't make much difference if you leave the weed mat or pull it - the suckers will be sent out beyond that area, but removing the mat might give you a few bonus shoots closer to the mother tree.

Is that a little boxelder that is growing right next to the plum trunk? I can't really tell for sure, but it looks like you have something competing with your plum.

Do you cage or tube your plums? I have several thickets I have been establishing and typically have really great growth with 5' tubes but have not tried cages yet. Even on my oldest plum seedlings that are 7-8 feet tall (2-3 out over the top of the tubes), I have not had any suckers produced yet. I am feeling like this might be a "cost" of pushing vertical growth through a tube first.

 

[Brian662]

You might see a few flowers this spring or next. Once my plums hit about 6' tall, they start to flower and produce fruit. That's about the time that they start to send out suckers as well. It won't make much difference if you leave the weed mat or pull it - the suckers will be sent out beyond that area, but removing the mat might give you a few bonus shoots closer to the mother tree.

Is that a little boxelder that is growing right next to the plum trunk? I can't really tell for sure, but it looks like you have something competing with your plum.

Yes, the fence row behind the switchgrass is box elders and they are prolific seed spreaders. I've been taking a hand pruner and just cutting them off for now near the soil, may have to take a backpack sprayer with some chemical to them this summer.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Do you cage or tube your plums? I have several thickets I have been establishing and typically have really great growth with 5' tubes but have not tried cages yet. Even on my oldest plum seedlings that are 7-8 feet tall (2-3 out over the top of the tubes), I have not had any suckers produced yet. I am feeling like this might be a "cost" of pushing vertical growth through a tube first.

I cage the plum shrubs that I really want to thrive, but 98% of the plums I plant are not protected at all. I haven't tried tubes because I think a tall, straight trunk would be a buck rub magnet if I ever took off the tube. I like cages since the plums grow wide with enough branches to act as a natural trunk guard when I eventually pull the cage.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Do you fellas prune the plums or just let'em go?

 

[Grimby]

Do you fellas prune the plums or just let'em go?

Let them go,they’ll form a thick hedge

 

[jsasker007]

On my property I have to cage plums or they will never get taller than waist high.

 

[T-Max]

The white flowers are all American plum I plopped in a ditch in the back of the yard 4 years ago. No extra care at all and they are suckering everywhere. The goal was a thicket for quail. Admittedly I am dealing with lower deer density than most of you. Tough clay soil as well.

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[jsasker007]

My first year with out cages on the plums the rabbits clipped them all off 10" high. They didn't even eat the tops, they just clipped them off and left them lay. Now the deer come in and eat them at the end of summer. Right when my hopes are rising that maybe the plums will get tall enough to make it. Now they have cages but it cost me about 10 years of growth. I don't think I actually had any die off from being eaten back they just never got any bigger. Had a couple that wound up with native brush growing around them and they are my tallest plums due to being "hidden" enough that the deer didn't get to them.

 

[T-Max]

My first year with out cages on the plums the rabbits clipped them all off 10" high. They didn't even eat the tops, they just clipped them off and left them lay. Now the deer come in and eat them at the end of summer. Right when my hopes are rising that maybe the plums will get tall enough to make it. Now they have cages but it cost me about 10 years of growth. I don't think I actually had any die off from being eaten back they just never got any bigger. Had a couple that wound up with native brush growing around them and they are my tallest plums due to being "hidden" enough that the deer didn't get to them.

After 10 years, the root structure should be huge. You could see an explosion pretty quickly I think.

 

[jsasker007]

After 10 years, the root structure should be huge. You could see an explosion pretty quickly I think.

Just caged them last fall so I'm thinking like you about the roots and hoping they make up for lost time this year. I want some plums and the grandkids like to go around picking the different things growing in the yard.

 

[g squared 23]

I’ve heard raking the ground around the outside of the cage will encourage suckering, a technique I’ve yet to try


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I planted these in 2022 and if you look close they have started to sucker. I raked around it ti encourage more.

I topped one over to a couple known varieties. They grow super fast on established rootstock


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