How to Help Old Fruit Trees
An old fruit tree that has been neglected can appear unsightly and nearly dead due to overgrowth of old and dead branches. It may seem that the tree will never have lush green leaves or bear plentiful fruit again, but you can help and restore an old fruit tree over a period of a couple years with selective pruning and care. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tall ladder
- Branch trimmers
- Pruners
- Hand-held saw
- Gloves
- Pocketknife
- Fertilizer
- Insecticide
Instructions
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Decide if the tree is worth saving. Even fruit trees as old as 30 or 40 years can be revived, according to the Penn State College of Agriculture. Certain trees fare better than others. Apple, pear and citrus trees respond well to rejuvenation. Cherry trees can be restored with some work. Peach and nectarine trees do not do well once they have been abandoned. Check if the tree trunk is solid. If it is diseased or hollow, it is futile to try and revive the tree.
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Conduct the first pruning of the old tree during the dormant season, usually winter, when there are no leaves on the tree.
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3
Clear away bushes and weeds near the tree. These bushes compete with the tree for water and sunlight.
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Cut off sucker branches around the bottom of the trunk. Remove all sucker branches on the first 6 feet of the trunk.
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Determine what branches are still healthy. Use a pocketknife to make a tiny slice in the bark, and peel it back. If you see some green, the branch is healthy. Cut away dead or broken branches throughout the tree.
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Shape the tree slowly. If the tree is too large or tall, slowly reduce its height over a period of two years. Excessive pruning will result in useless sucker branches and shoots that prevent the tree from budding. The tree also will be exposed to sunburn and stress if pruned severely the first year. Only lower the height of a fruit tree by two to three feet per year.
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Shape and thin the tree selectively. Keep healthy branches that are growing mostly horizontal to the ground. Branches that grow straight upward have a narrow crotch angle. When the tree bears fruit, these types of branches break off. Prune tree branches with a narrow crotch angle.
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Fertilize the tree in early spring before the growing season. A fertilizer formulated for a fruit tree or mild garden fertilizer can be purchased at garden centers. Spread the fertilizer under the tree as wide as the spread of the branches.
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Check the tree for pests and treat appropriately with insecticide or poison for mice that like to feed off the trunk of fruit trees.
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Remove small shooter sprouts or sucker branches as they sprout. Quick-growing branches that seem to shoot up really fast are called shooter sprouts. Sucker branches are those that grow on the lower trunk.
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During the second winter, prune and shape up the tree some more. Prune out any dead or broken branches. If you want to further reduce the size, prune only up to 2 feet.
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