Plum Tree- Stop Production

Q: In the last couple of years our purple leaf plum trees have been making so much fruit it weighs down the limbs. They also make a mess on the ground. How do we make the trees stop producing plums?

A: Fruit control on small trees is possible. Spray with ethepon (Florel, available at www.montereylawngarden.com) at bloom to make the flowers drop before they produce fruit.