April 2026 seems to be a good spring for stone fruit blossom on the trained fruit. Gareth pruned the fan trained plum trees in the walled garden at Hill Court in South Gloucestershire last summer (all stone fruit are only pruned over the summer months of active growth to manage the impact of Silver Leaf fungal disease).

A recently planted peach tree showing an abundance of blossom. It was planted as a single leader but with a bit of cajoling we’re getting it into the fan shape that will best support the flowering wood in years to come.

Hopefully the pollinators were able to do their thing.

The old pear espaliers just coming into blossom as the plums peak.

A lot of different techniques to employ; spur pruning, renewal pruning, fan-trained, espalier and cordons. All used to get the best fruit production out of the spaces on offer.