How to Trim a Fruit Tree

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By Langley Cornwell
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Trim a Fruit Tree

The term ‘trimming’ a fruit tree refers to the removal of excess growth to reshape the fruit tree’s natural structure. Annual trimming allows the fruit tree to develop a productive shape and form, so start trimming your fruit tree when it’s young to keep it healthy and rigorous. Correctly trimmed fruit trees not only produce better quality fruit earlier in their lives but will also live longer. Here’s how to trim your fruit tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

sharp pruning shears or a small hand saw
step ladder

Step 1

Trim your Fruit Tree at the Proper Time of Year
Fruit trees should be trimmed as late in the winter as possible to avoid injury. Also helpful, in the winter the leaves have dropped so the branch structure of your fruit tree is easier to see. Trim lightly, you don’t want to begin a yearly cycle of excessive vegetative growth with little fruit production. When determining your trimming schedule, a good rule to follow is to trim the latest blooming trees first and the earliest blooming trees last. It’s also advisable to trim the oldest fruit trees first because younger fruit trees are vulnerable and therefore more susceptible to winter damage.
Step 2

Trim your Fruit Tree for Ventilation and Light Penetration

Trim your fruit tree to open the tree canopy, thereby allowing air and sunlight to flow through the tree branches. Air movement is important because it dries the branches and buds, minimizing disease and fungus problems as well as potential infection. Sun light is important because it encourages flower bud development, allowing the fruit to set. So even if your fruit tree is growing in full sun, its good practice to trim your tree annually so the air and sunlight can reach 12 to 18 inches inside the fruit tree canopy.

Sharpen your pruning shears or hand saw so the cuts on your fruit trees are clean. Begin by removing branches that appear dead, diseased, broken or weak. Next remove overlapping branches that cross through the center of the fruit tree and rub against each other.
Step 3

Trim your Fruit Tree for Rigorous Health

When trimming your fruit tree, your goal is to develop a strong and healthy fruit tree framework that will support fruit production. Begin by trimming away water-shoots and basal suckers. Water-shoots are long, straight branches that usually grow straight up from the main framework of the tree. Basal suckers grow around the base of the tree, from the root stock on grafted plants. Water-shoots and basal suckers must be trimmed away because they sap strength from the fruit tree, inhibiting production. Trim away any upright branches with sharp angles, which may break under a heavy fruit load. Choose four or five main branches that appear healthy and strong and remove the remaining tree branches. As suggested, if you start trimming your fruit tree when it’s young, this elimination shouldn’t be too dramatic for the tree to handle.
Step 4

Trim your Fruit Tree for Rapid Healing

When trimming your fruit tree, it’s important to use sharp tools and proper trimming methods so the newly cut surface heals quickly. A sharp tool not only makes trimming easier but also minimizes the opportunity for disease, fungus or potential infections to enter the branches. As you trim your fruit tree, cut flush to the adjacent branch without leaving a stub. Angle your cut so that water runs away from the bud. And trim your side branches from the underside first, so the bark doesn’t tear as the branch falls.

Trees have a natural healing collar at the base of each limb. Therefore, it’s best to trim your fruit tree correctly and allow the tree to heal itself naturally.