Pruning Fruit TreesPruning Fruit Trees

All fruit trees need pruning to help them develop All fruit trees need pruning to help them develop into strong, productive treesinto strong, productive trees

Pruning thins bearing limbs - fewer but larger Pruning thins bearing limbs - fewer but larger fruitsfruits

Gets rid of unproductive old woodGets rid of unproductive old wood

Lets light, air into center of tree for healthy Lets light, air into center of tree for healthy productionproduction

Each type has natural formEach type has natural form

Following this form leads to Following this form leads to attractive tree that generally attractive tree that generally needs pruning only once a yearneeds pruning only once a year

Pruning generally done in spring on Pruning generally done in spring on dormant trees dormant trees

Sucker, water sprout removal most Sucker, water sprout removal most successful in mid-summer since successful in mid-summer since tree is slowing growth - sprouts tree is slowing growth - sprouts don’t come back as readilydon’t come back as readily

Keep in mind frameworkKeep in mind framework of tree of tree

Make clean cuts with sharp, Make clean cuts with sharp, clean toolsclean tools

Well-pruned fruit tree will be Well-pruned fruit tree will be shaped somewhat like shaped somewhat like Christmas treeChristmas tree

Prune to removePrune to removecrossing branchescrossing branchesdiseased or damageddiseased or damaged

branchesbrancheswater sproutswater sproutsbranches that form narrow, weak branches that form narrow, weak

angles angles

Prune to open canopy for maximum air Prune to open canopy for maximum air circulationcirculation

Best methods for high production, easy Best methods for high production, easy picking:picking:

central leadercentral leadermodified central leader modified central leader

Tree pruned to have one central trunk, Tree pruned to have one central trunk, scaffold branches evenly spaced scaffold branches evenly spaced around center leaderaround center leader

Central LeaderCentral Leader

Used on dwarf, semi-dwarf treesUsed on dwarf, semi-dwarf trees

Leader allowed to growLeader allowed to grow

Modified Central Modified Central LeaderLeader

Used on standard-Used on standard-sized treessized trees

Central leader cut Central leader cut back yearly to keep back yearly to keep tree shortertree shorter

Year OneYear One

one-year whip (no branches)one-year whip (no branches)

cut back to bud three feet abovecut back to bud three feet above groundground

as shoots grow during summer, select 3-4 scaffold branches, 4-8 as shoots grow during summer, select 3-4 scaffold branches, 4-8 inches apart, evenly spaced in spiral around central leaderinches apart, evenly spaced in spiral around central leader

pinch out or rub off all other shoots on main trunk pinch out or rub off all other shoots on main trunk

forces energy into growing scaffold branchesforces energy into growing scaffold branches

Year OneYear One

If tree already branched, select appropriate If tree already branched, select appropriate scaffold branches and prune out all othersscaffold branches and prune out all others

Cut back central leader to 4-6 inches above top Cut back central leader to 4-6 inches above top scaffold scaffold

Through summer, allow new central leader to Through summer, allow new central leader to emergeemerge

Remove all shoots that arise from the trunkRemove all shoots that arise from the trunk

Year Two Year Two

In dormant season, cut back central In dormant season, cut back central leader to about 3 feet above lowest leader to about 3 feet above lowest scaffold branchscaffold branch

Cut just above bud on opposite side of Cut just above bud on opposite side of trunk from which leader emerged last trunk from which leader emerged last yearyear

Zigzag will keep trunk straightZigzag will keep trunk straight

Year TwoYear Two

Head back scaffold branches by Head back scaffold branches by cutting at outward facing budcutting at outward facing bud

This will force secondary This will force secondary growth and begin developing growth and begin developing fruiting woodfruiting wood

You can also let some branches You can also let some branches form more scaffolds form more scaffolds

Year TwoYear Two

Through summer, remove shoots that arise Through summer, remove shoots that arise within about 8 inches of newly emerging within about 8 inches of newly emerging central leadercentral leader

Prune out water sprouts, suckers and any Prune out water sprouts, suckers and any unwanted branchesunwanted branches

SpreadingSpreading

Fruit trees with natural tendency to grow Fruit trees with natural tendency to grow upward will need help “spreading”, upward will need help “spreading”, beginning in second yearbeginning in second year

Method of placing spreaders in young Method of placing spreaders in young branch angles to help push the branch branch angles to help push the branch into 45 to 60 degree angle with trunk into 45 to 60 degree angle with trunk

Promotes earlier, heavier fruit Promotes earlier, heavier fruit productionproduction

SpreadingSpreading

Done in early spring when Done in early spring when

branches pliablebranches pliable

Types of spreaders: Types of spreaders:

notched pieces of woodnotched pieces of wood

pieces of wood with nails protruding from both pieces of wood with nails protruding from both endsends

clothespinsclothespins

weights tied to branchesweights tied to branches

Year threeYear three

Prune leader as in year twoPrune leader as in year two

Slightly head back scaffold branchesSlightly head back scaffold branches

Thin out extra branches Thin out extra branches

Prune water sprouts, suckers in mid summerPrune water sprouts, suckers in mid summer

Fourth yearFourth year

Tree should be at maximum height, so don’t Tree should be at maximum height, so don’t prune central leader any moreprune central leader any more

Should have sturdy network of scaffold Should have sturdy network of scaffold branches, so will only need minor pruning branches, so will only need minor pruning from here onfrom here on

Modified central leaderModified central leader

Prune just as for central leader system, except Prune just as for central leader system, except in fourth year, cut out leader flush with in fourth year, cut out leader flush with topmost scaffold branchtopmost scaffold branch

From this point on, will not let branch assume From this point on, will not let branch assume position of central leaderposition of central leader

EspalierEspalier

es pal' yayes pal' yay

Decoratively trained flat Decoratively trained flat against wall or trellisagainst wall or trellis

Take up less space than Take up less space than if grown at full diameterif grown at full diameter

Provide fruit and focal point Provide fruit and focal point

Can also shade south or west wall, Can also shade south or west wall, cooling the homecooling the home

EspalierEspalier

Pruned carefully to maintain only Pruned carefully to maintain only branches against wall or trellisbranches against wall or trellis

Practiced as art for hundreds of yearsPracticed as art for hundreds of years

Countless special designs for trainingCountless special designs for training

EspalierEspalier

candelabra candelabra

Belgian fenceBelgian fence

informal faninformal fan

EspalierEspalier

Considerable amount of extra Considerable amount of extra pruning time needed than pruning time needed than when growing fruits when growing fruits traditionallytraditionally

Will yield larger fruits since Will yield larger fruits since competing fruits removed, competing fruits removed, branches receive more sun branches receive more sun

Major pruning 2-3 times a year Major pruning 2-3 times a year with additional minor pruning with additional minor pruning throughout growing seasonthroughout growing season

EspalierEspalier

Can purchase plants already started in Can purchase plants already started in training systemtraining system

Can start with whip – much less Can start with whip – much less expensiveexpensive

EspalierEspalier

Begin with very young treeBegin with very young tree

Single stem will give best start Single stem will give best start

Plant tree very close to south, west, east wallPlant tree very close to south, west, east wall

Or, plant at base of frame or trellisOr, plant at base of frame or trellis

EspalierEspalier

Branches tied to framework with soft tiesBranches tied to framework with soft ties

Purchase ties or make Purchase ties or make

themthem

If using wall, need If using wall, need

frame to tie frame to tie

branches tobranches to

EspalierEspalier

Common framework: Common framework:

Permanent stainless Permanent stainless

steel wires attached steel wires attached

with pegs directly to wallwith pegs directly to wall

Watch weightWatch weight

rot-resistant woodrot-resistant wood

EspalierEspalier

When plant sends out first branches, start shapingWhen plant sends out first branches, start shaping

Prune each branch and branchlet to train it to Prune each branch and branchlet to train it to grow in direction desiredgrow in direction desired

If lacking symmetry, can graft bud into empty If lacking symmetry, can graft bud into empty spot spot

As branches grow, tie them gently to frameworkAs branches grow, tie them gently to framework

EspalierEspalier

Throughout growing season, watch each Throughout growing season, watch each budbud

If branch begins to grow in incorrect If branch begins to grow in incorrect spot, remove itspot, remove it

PleachingPleaching

Traditional pruning technique involves Traditional pruning technique involves weaving branches of trees planted in weaving branches of trees planted in row to form screen or arch. row to form screen or arch.

Vertical branches cut off, horizontal Vertical branches cut off, horizontal shoots trained in single planeshoots trained in single plane

As shoots from neighboring trees As shoots from neighboring trees intermingle, they are pleachedintermingle, they are pleached

PleachingPleaching

PleachingPleaching