Fruit Tree Pruning Information

Pruning is an important part of the care and maintenance of any fruit tree. In fact, fruit trees must be pruned to produce the most high-quality fruit that is free of disease and insects. Although pruning a fruit tree might seem like a daunting task to the home gardener or landscaper, it is actually a relatively simple process that gets easier the more you do it.

Basics

There are many reasons to prune a fruit tree. Some gardeners and landscapers choose to prune their fruit trees for safety or aesthetic reasons. However, the majority of fruit tree owners prune their trees because pruning, if done correctly, can be an invigorating experience for the tree. When you prune a branch off a fruit tree, the tree diverts its energy and nutrients to a different part of the tree, causing it to grow. This process is why pruning a fruit tree is often considered an invigorating process, no matter how ironic it might seem to call it such.

What to Prune

One of the most difficult parts of pruning a fruit tree is deciding what branches to remove. Any diseased or damaged branch is the first candidate for removal. Diseased or infected branches serve little or no beneficial purpose to the tree and, unless the infection can be handled without significant injury to the tree, these branches only take energy from the tree that could be of more use elsewhere. Next, the gardener or landscaper must decide what his ultimate goal is and work from there. If you are pruning to limit height, topping off the tall vertical branches is next. However, if your goal is to prune for strength and vitality, the gardener or landscaper should target weak branches that are impeding or shading other more fruitful branches. As a rule, horizontal branches are more fruitful while vertical branches are more vegetative. However, a good combination of both is necessary for hardy fruit production.

The Process

The actual process of pruning a fruit tree is not nearly as complicated as choosing what and when to prune. For diseased and damaged branches, use pruning shears or a pruning saw--depending on the thickness of the wood--and remove the plant close to the main stem of the tree. For all other branches, the goal is to leave a fresh cut that will achieve the desired growth objectives. To avoid leaving stubs, make your pruning cuts within a quarter inch of a bud or major branch.

Timing

Pruning fruit trees is easier and safer when the tree is dormant. Not only is it easier to see what you are doing when the fruit tree is dormant, but pruning during dormancy will also invigorate the remaining buds.

Other Considerations

According to publications by the University of California at Davis, trees that are not vigorous growers should be pruned less heavily, especially during the first few years of growth. Fruit trees that grow on last year's growth, like kiwis, peaches, nectarines and others, grow a lot and should be pruned by about 50 percent. For less vigorously growing trees, only 20 percent should be pruned off. For citrus trees, keep the skirts off the ground.

References

• North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Training and Pruning Fruit Trees
• USDA: How to Prune Trees
• UC Davis: Ten Basics of When and How to Prune Fruit Trees