How to Trim Almond Trees
The goal of trimming almond trees, as with any tree that produces fruit or nuts, is to maximize production. A secondary goal is to maintain the shape and overall visual appeal of the tree and to remove dead, diseased or insect-infested branches.
Trimming almond trees should begin at planting and continue at seasonal intervals throughout the life of the tree. However, you should approach the task with restraint, because aggressive pruning is more likely to decrease than to increase yields.
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Things You'll Need
- Bypass style pruning shears
- Pruning saw
- Lopping pole trimmer
- Pruning knife
Instructions
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The First Season
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1
Cut the tops of newly planted trees at 42 inches from the ground.
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2
When shoots have developed and grown to about 6 inches long in the spring, eliminate all that are growing lower than 8 inches from the top of the tree.
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3
Examine the almond tree very carefully after the first growing season is over and the tree has entered dormancy. You are looking for the strongest branches in an upward spiral around the tree that will form the foundation of the canopy. The total number of scaffold branches selected should be between three and seven.
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4
Remove other branches that are either growing straight out from the tree or at too steep an upward angle. Use a pruning knife to clean up any rough cuts or bark shards left by the shears or other pruning tools
Subsequent Seasons
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5
Don't prune during the second growing season except to remove dead or diseased branches or shoots growing from the base of the almond tree.
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6
Prune conservatively once the tree has entered the dormancy period. Look for weak branches and branches growing at too steep or too shallow an angle.
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7
Tie and stake the tree near the top using flat rope in order to maintain its upright position through the winter and the subsequent growing season.
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8
After the third growing season, remove the ties and continue conservative spring and winter pruning of the almond tree as before.
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