Pruning Fruit Trees

When should we prune fruit trees?

Prune fruit trees in the fall or winter when dormant. Pruning a dormant fruit tree will invigorate tree growth come spring and it will be much easier to see what you are doing. Don’t prune a fruit tree heavily while there is fruit on it, as this will cause the fruit to get sunburn. It will also slow down ripening due to removing the leaves that produce food and sugars. Heavier pruning in a fruit trees younger years will promote fuller, faster growth.  It will not hurt to take off a branch here or there in the summer if necessary. Avoid Pruning young fruit trees. Only prune more mature trees and do it each year when the tree is dormant.

Why do we prune fruit trees?

Pruning fruit trees is necessary in order to keep fruit trees healthy and to promote healthy yields. Pruning opens the tree up to sunlight, which in turn produces larger, sweeter fruit. Thinning out trees also helps with air circulation, which prevents diseases like powdery mildew. Healthy trees are also less prone to insects.

Horizontal branches VS. Vertical branches

One is not better than the other. Vertical branches are the vegetative branches that hold the fruit producing, horizontal branches. Too many vertical branches can crowd a tree. Have vertical branches properly spaced to allow sunlight to a tree. Horizontal branches that point inside the tree are prime candidates to be pruned off as well as branches pointing straight up into the tree. Horizontal branches pointing up at a 45 to 60 degree angle are great for main vegetative branches. Branches pointing down will become shaded and unproductive and therefore should be removed. Remove any broken branches and any branches that touch or rub together, as this is breeding ground for disease. Doing a majority of your pruning at the top of the tree will allow the tree to become drenched with sun and produce the best yields. Seal each cut with a pruning seal to keep out disease and insects.

Some trees require heavier pruning than others. Peach trees are quite aggressive and require heavy thinning out, where apple trees require much lighter pruning.

What kind of fruit trees are you pruning? Let us know.

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