Learning how to properly prune your fruit trees not only results in more fruit, it also keeps trees disease-free, controls shape and size, stimulates growth, and improves air circulation and fruit quality. And while the process isn’t difficult, it’s important perform pruning correctly to avoid tree injury. Check out a few beginner pruning tips and look forward to healthy fruit trees yielding beautiful results:
When to Prune
Winter pruning is the most common, as trees are dormant when the weather outside is frightful. This not only seriously reduces injury risk, but also makes for vigorous new growth come spring. Summer pruning is generally done to slow unwanted growth, or to remove clearly-flawed limbs.
Avoid fall pruning, as fungal spores are out and about during this time. Additionally, cuts do not heal as quickly.
The Right Tools
For best results, use sharp shears or saws to prune. This ensures clean cuts and little risk of injury. Pruning shears are recommended for young trees and thin limbs, while saws are suggested for older fruit trees.
Dead Wood
Remove dead wood and broken branches first. Extract wood that cuts or rubs against other branches next, as this allows the sun to shine on the middle of the tree, resulting in more fruit.
Cuts
A pruned fruit tree branch should never feature a “stub.” Make cuts as close to the bud as possible, and at a backwards, 30-degree angle. It’s also recommended you prune stems “just above” pairs of opposing strong buds or shoots, and remove shoots around the tree base.
Keep in mind that while heavy pruning results in lots of new growth, it does not generate as much fruit. In comparison, failure to prune creates a crowded tree with branching and fruit production issues. Proper pruning stimulates 18 to 30 inches of new growth on young trees each year.
Do you maintain fruit trees? Share your pruning tips in the comments section!
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This time is not compatible for all fruit tree’s.But the tools you tell to use are safe
Shears
It can be hard to know when the right time to prune is so this is really helpful. I learned the hard way not to prune too much in the fall. Thanks for the tips.
I like these tips about how to prune a tree. I didn’t know that the time to prune was the winter time, and that helps the tree grow. I know I have some trees that need to be pruned, and now that I know what I should look for, I think I can do a good job.