How to Prune an Old Plum Tree, Fixing an Overgrown Fruit Tree

Pruning an old, overgrown fruit tree can feel overwhelming, especially when you inherit a large backyard fruit tree that hasn’t been cared for in years. In this step-by-step pruning guide, Farmer Rich continues the gradual process of restoring a 20-year-old plum tree and improving its structure for better fruit production. You’ll see how to approach pruning a big fruit tree safely and confidently, including how to reduce crowded growth, improve sunlight and airflow, and guide the tree toward a stronger, more productive shape over time. This practical demonstration shows real-world pruning decisions on a mature plum tree that produces thousands of small, sour plums and needs careful restructuring. In this video you’ll learn: • How to prune an old plum tree without damaging it • How to fix an overgrown fruit tree step by step • How to improve fruit size and quality through pruning • How to manage height and structure on large backyard fruit trees • What to remove first when restoring a neglected tree The basic pruning principles apply to many backyard fruit trees including plum, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peaches and other stone fruit. If you’ve recently moved into a home with an established fruit tree or are trying to bring an old tree back into production, this real-time pruning example will help you build confidence and develop a long-term plan. 00:00 What Tools We Need 02:24 What We Cut the 1st Year 04:32 How the Tree Responded 05:56 Strategy For Keeping or Cutting Scaffold Branches 07:21 Balance vs. Height vs. Volume of Fruit Production 09:52 More Examples of When to Remove Scaffolds 12:14 Tip Especially for Large Overgrown Trees 12:59 Opening the Tree's Center While Shading the Trunks 18:31 How to Fine Tune the Scaffold Branches 22:56 Speed Pruning the First Half of the Tree 25:53 The Halfway Point 26:04 Speed Pruning the Second Half of the Tree 28:30 Tour the Completed Tree