How to Prune Stone Fruit Trees
Stone fruits are so called because they have a large pit at the center (think peaches, nectarines and plums). Each has its own fruiting patterns, as to whether they bud on new wood or older. It's best to prune in late winter (depending on where you live), when the tree is dormant. Note that all the fruit buds and leaves are already “set” and waiting for spring. These tend to be bulkier in appearance than the smaller wood buds. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Know your tree’s fruiting habits, and prune accordingly. For example, fruit grows on the wood from the previous season for peaches and nectarines, so be careful about cutting off last year’s healthy growth.
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Plan your pruning so that the tree will have a wide angled "V" shape to its overall appearance.
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Prune first for the three Ds: dead, damaged, diseased. These should all be carefully removed. Also prune out branches that rub or chafe against each other. This can damage bark, and invite disease and insects.
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Prune at a slant, angling away from the tree so water does not run into the tree’s center. Depending on the size of branch, you made need to use pruning or lopping shears, or a pruning saw.
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Prune the trees to have an open center, to allow for light and air circulation. Look for fruit buds on the trees when pruning, and plan your pruning around those to ensure you have fruit. Remove all debris and cuttings.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid harmful pruning practices. These include topping the tree, cutting branches way back (known as tipping), ripping the bark or wood when cutting away a branch, cutting a branch flush to the trunk instead of outside the ridge, and stub cuts, where the cut is made straight up and down instead of at an angle to the tree.
