I had a flat wonderful and loved it. But mine decided to grow sideways and twist like a bonsai even though in ground. One thing I did was to tie small rocks to branches to make them slowly bend outward almost like espalier during the season til branches hardened into position. It helped keep an open vase shape on the tree. Perhaps if you spread beaches like that and trim central leader the tree will get the message and put out more lateral branching and fruit.

If you do trim, I'd love a piece since I lost mine after a storm.

Appreciate the feedback. I agree, pruning it to grow out instead of up is definitely the logical choice.

As for scion wood, I’m happy to share cuttings from anything I have here that isn’t still under patent protection.

Not concerned with the poor fruit density on the flat wonderful this year, since I have other peach trees that are loaded this summer.

That said, it would be nice to redirect it in the fall, then grow it back out into a desirable form next summer. Sort of a two year process, isn’t it?

The dangling rocks actually worked pretty quickly. I used between egg sized and fist sized depending on thickness of branches. Bend to desired height first then attach which ever keeps it there.

If I did in May/June when branch growth was firm but still flexible, by end of Aug it stayed in place. I'd leave on til cooler weather to make sure it was set for winter. Next year same thing. I also noticed more fruit on horizontal branches than vertical ones.

In the meantime, we will enjoy some plums this year, and I’ll continue honing my pruning skills.

This particular plum tree was completely chewed off at the trunk by a puppy within a year of planting.

I thought it was a gonner at the time, but it now has the most desirable form of all the trees (four years later)- wide, not tall.

And to give credence to what you said about horizontal growth, it’s also loaded with fruit.

To be honest, I should’ve thinned it more, but I’m not concerned. Live and learn, right?

As long as it doesn’t break branches, I’m good with it.

Or some Hale Haven peaches, which is also a much more horizontal tree, and has lots of fruit this year. With all the heavy rain, it has dropped a lot of peaches, but there are plenty left, and it seems to have subsided.

They look great. What kind of plums?

I'm sure the rocks will make your flat wonderful look more like your Hale Haven in no time. For me it was an easy fix since nature and gravity do all the work and you only have to trim the excessively tall center when dormant later on.

The first time I wrapped rocks with twine but now I use extra organza bags I had to cover fruit (figs etc) and its so much easier to fill bags, can even use smaller rocks til level and looks much nicer almost like decorating tree with crystal sparkling pouches.

Supposed to be a Santa Rosa, but I wouldn’t know any better if it wasn’t. The fruit gets a deep purple and somewhat waxy appearance when ripe.

I didn’t think I would really care for them that much, since I’m more of a peach person, but they’re sweet and juicy when ripe, and really surprised me when we got the first fruit.

It did take longer than a peach to start producing a meaningful crop.

There are hundreds this year. Every branch is covered like that- though it did drop about 20% of its fruit at the very end of May.

Good thing I guess. It was way too many.