How to Prune Italian Fruit Trees

The traditional Italian fig tree is also grown by American gardeners.

Italian fruit trees, including plums, prunes and figs, grow in a variety of locations throughout the United States. Like all trees, Italian fruiting trees produce the largest, healthiest fruits if proper pruning techniques are in play during growth. Correct pruning allows for air circulation, sunlight application and equal distribution of nutrients throughout all healthy areas of the tree, which all contribute to healthy and active fruit production. Most Italian trees benefit from a modified leader system of pruning, which encourages one or two scaffolding branches to produce the strongest fruit.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Prune trees in early spring, while the tree is still dormant, before active growth begins. This will encourage new and active growth in the upcoming growing season.

2. Trim the tree back to between 36 and 40 inches tall after you plant the tree in early spring. If your tree is more than one or two years old and already features multiple branches, select the healthiest three or four and remove all others. This ensures that only the healthiest branches receive nutrients to promote growth.

3. Choose several primary and scaffolding branches after the first growing season. The primary branch will the the strongest, commonly more central to the tree, while scaffolding branches are the strongest of the remaining branches and often grow directly from the primary branch. Remove any dead or damaged branches, as well as any that have begun to form aside from your specific three or four that you chose to begin with. These scaffolding branches should be 8 to 10 inches apart to allow room for the fruits to grow.

4. Remove dead or damaged branches at the start of each pruning for the life of the tree. During the following four to five years, trim away any cross branches or those that grow in a different direction from the others; this will maintain the aesthetic look of your tree and also help to ensure proper air circulation and light penetration. Keep scaffolding branches to a length of one-half to three-quarters the size of the main leader limb, which is the strongest.

5. Remove up to one-half of the fruit shoots each year the tree bears fruit (the number of years before this starts to happen varies by species). Depending on the type of tree, shoots can look like flower buds or will form as tiny berry-like pieces growing from the branches. This will ensure enough nutrients, light, air and water for the remaining shoots, producing the best and healthiest fruit.

6. Prune each year to control height and spread of the tree. This type of pruning will vary depending on the species of Italian fruit tree, as well as the space limitations for your growing area. Make sure your tree does not get so tall or wide that you are no longer able to prune, harvest or spray for insects if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Beginning to prune as soon as you plant an Italian fruit tree will prevent the need for heavy and potentially-harmful pruning as the tree grows older.

• Some growers recommend dressing your pruning wounds, but this is only truly beneficial to cuts wider than 2 inches. If you decide to dress the wound, use only material specifically designed for fruit trees.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Pruning the Orchard
• Wegman's Nursery: Fruit Tree Pruning