Prunus mume pruning and wiring

[Bonbon]

Not much found on the net.
What is the best way to increase ramifications?
What is the best way to style? Wiring or cut and grow?
If so, when is the best time to cut? After flowering, prune back hard to 2 to 3 buds?
Flower buds always form on new growth?
Any links to video or pictorial guides?

[RogerW]

In Spring allow the shoots to grow to five or six leaves and then tip prune to stop growth. Around September in Canberra. At the same time you can wire the young supple branches. Care must be taken to avoid the branch growing around the wire and causing unsightly marks. If wiring is done later the branches will have hardened and difficult to bend and become brittle.

Examine the leaf axils for buds. Defoliate the bottom two or three leaves around December taking care to preserve the buds then allow the remaining leaves to fall naturally in autumn. The lower buds should become leaf buds whilst the buds toward the tip should become flower buds.

I use clip and grow and have achieved improved ramification.

Hope this helps

[Bonbon]