Can you prune a 10' sparse, spindly purple leaf plum bush back to about 4'?

bush is about 8-9 years old - is very leggy

Can you prune a 10' sparse, spindly purple leaf plum bush back to about 4'?
In a word . . . No



if you want to try and prune out a third or so at a time over a 3 year period to lower it that way-it will probably work.



That is if you are speaking about the "purple sandcherry"/"purple leaf plum"



btw: it is not a "bush" it is a tree. the smallest variety I know of is-

Prunus x cistena which gorws to 7ft high by 7ft wide.



Most homeowners buy

prunus cerasifera 20 x 20, or Prunus x newport 15 x 15



Rick ~30yrs in profession.
Reply:I just want to agree, no. My arborist boyfriend says a tree can handle about a 25% reduction, and that's it. When you do prune, be sure to do it properly. Check out the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) website: http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/pru... They have drawings to help.

rain roots