Gardening and Horticulture - How do I turn this tree, into this, and not this?

I planted three purple leaf plum tress back in early spring. And of course after I planted the tree, that's when I did my research. They are prone to disease and insects. That aside, I decided to keep them. They are doing rather well and growing. During my research I read that these trees are naturally a vase shape tree. But I've seen some pictures where the canopy was more open

This is a pic of one of the purple leaf plum in my front yard
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/496000-496999/496700_243_full.jpg

Here's a pic I found on the internet showing the tree in it's natural vase shape (so I've read)
http://treegrowersdiary.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/weepnomore5.04.jpg

Here's another pic from the internet showing how I would like my PLP to be shape like
http://davescompletelawncare.com/trees/purple_leaf_plum_lg.jpg

I realize the simpliest answer to my question is to prune the tree. Where is the best place to prune in order to achieve the shape I'm looking for?

Thanks
Mike

Hi Mike,

Different varieties of purple leaf plums have different shapes. Newport is one of the roundest. You can read about many different varieties here.
http://www.arthurleej.com/a-purplumwest.html

If you do want to try and prune it to shape it a bit differently, you will need to do quite a bit of reading. Sometimes the vase shape that you have is caused by overcrowding in the nursery where they are grown. This site has extensive info on pruning by a most respected arborist in the industry. You can click on the links at the bottom of the info box.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning/index.htm

There is something else I see in your picture that concerns me that I'd like to point out. It appears your tree is planted too deep with too much mulch. Check to see if you can see the rootflare. Here's some helpful sites that show how to plant and mulch a tree and look for the rootfare.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/rootgrowthdevelopingflare.html
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/rootcomingtotop.html
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/rootgrowthdontsoil.html
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/overmulching.html
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/rootgrowtheffectsdeep.html
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx

You should also consider removing the guy wires now.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/staking.html

Newt

Newt, thanks for the info. I Googled each variety of purple leaf plum to find a pic of each.

ALLRED - unable to find photo

BIG CIS
http://www.jfschmidt.com/introductions/bigcis/48602b.jpg

BLIREIANA
http://www.wcainc.com/wca/047.jpg

CISTENA
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/prucis/prucis54.jpg

HOLLYWOOD - unable to find photo

KRAUTER'S VESUVIUS
http://www.rosevilletrees.org/trees/images/plum.jpg
or
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/images/prcekv81.jpg

MOSERI - unable to find photo

MT. ST. HELENS - unable to find photo

NEWPORT
http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/images/Plum_Newport_tree_220.jpg

NIGRA or PISSARDII
http://www.plantpress.com/plant-encyclopedia/images/n03168-996766_l_480.jpg

PURPLE PONY or DWARF PURPLE PONY
http://www.wcainc.com/wca/396.jpg

SPENCER HOLLYWOOD
http://www.arthurleej.com/images/Spencer.jpg

THUNDERCLOUD (most often sold)
http://www.treegrowersdiary.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/PLP-afterprune52806.jpg

TRAILBLAZER - unable to find photo

And finally VESUVIUS - unable to find photo

For those who might be considering this tree, hope these pics help.

Wonderful photos. Thanks for posting those.

Newt

Wonderful photos. Thanks for posting those.
Newt

No, thank you..................................

You are so very welcome! Glad I could help.

Newt