| Don't be afraid to prune your fruit trees. Unpruned | | | | Leave some small branches on the lower trunk to |
| trees become too bushy, lose their vigor, and | | | | encourage trunk strength. Prune back scaffolds to |
| produce smaller fruit. You can't kill fruit trees by | | | | one-third of their length. |
| pruning incorrectly and you can correct any pruning | | | | 3. During the second dormant season, prune off |
| mistakes as the tree grows. | | | | aggressive new shoots but leave twiggy growth, |
| Once you learn a few simple rules about which | | | | which will be the fruit-bearing wood in most trees. |
| branches will bear fruit and how to shape the tree, | | | | Choose and encourage additional scaffolds if |
| you are ready to perform the yearly pruning that | | | | needed. |
| your fruit trees need. In general, you should do most | | | | 4. During the third dormant season, prune to remove |
| pruning during the dormant season, but light pruning | | | | any broken limbs or crossing branches, but don't do |
| can be done in the summer to restrain excessive | | | | any more major pruning until the tree has produced a |
| growth. | | | | good-sized crop. |
| PRUNING YOUNG TREES The first pruning provides | | | | PRUNING MATURE TREES Once the basic shape of a |
| an opportunity to start determining the eventual | | | | tree has been developed, making pruning decisions |
| shape of the tree. The buds will sprout in the spring | | | | according to which branches bear fruit. Most trees |
| and grow in the general direction they were pointing. | | | | produce fruit on short branches, or spurs, which will |
| The buds nearest the end of each stem will grow | | | | bear fruit for several years. Prunce each year to |
| more vigorously than those below it. Cut back to | | | | remove excess growth and crossing branches; cut |
| buds that are facing the direction you want the | | | | out a portion of the older fruiting wood each year. |
| branch to grow. A branch coming off the trunk at | | | | Here are some suggestions for pruning specific |
| nearly a right angle is much stronger than a branch | | | | trees: |
| growing at a more upright angle. If a tree does not | | | | Apple. Train standard-size trees to a vase shape and |
| form good branches (cherries, in particular, do no), | | | | dwarf trees to a central leader. Fruit is produced on |
| you can tie weights or splints onto young branches | | | | short spurs that last 5 to 10 years, and sometimes |
| to force them in a better direction. Retain some of | | | | as long as 20 years. Prune lightly to remove |
| the low branches for the first few years. Although | | | | one-tenth of the older wood each year. |
| these will not figure in the shape planned for the | | | | Apricot. Prune to a vase shape. Fruit is produced on |
| mature tree, the extra leafy growth will help develop | | | | the previous year's stems and on spurs that last 3 to |
| trunk strength. | | | | 4 years. Prune out one-fourth of the older growth |
| THREE TRAINING STYLES | | | | and cut one-half of the previous year's stems. |
| Vase pruning shapes a tree to a short trunk and | | | | Cherry. Train cherries to the central leader system. |
| three or four main limbs, each with several lateral | | | | Fruit is produced in clusters on small spurs that last |
| branches. This style creates an open center that | | | | for 10 to 12 years. Sweet cherries need to be |
| allows light and air to reach all branches and promotes | | | | topped to keep the tree at a manageable size. |
| fruiting on the interior and lower branches. Vase | | | | Remove only weak and crossing branches in yearly |
| pruning also helps keep tree height low for easy care | | | | pruning. Sour cherries are smaller, bushier plants and |
| and harvesting. This shape is particularly | | | | shoulder be pruned to increase branch length. |
| recommended for apricots, peaches, nectarines, and | | | | Citrus. Mature citrus should not be pruned except to |
| plums. Apples and pears are often pruned to a vase | | | | remove broken or twisted branches. They produce a |
| shape. This style is also appropriate for any trees in | | | | great many shoots at pruning cuts, which results in a |
| containers. | | | | broom effect. Citrus may be bush or tree in form, |
| Modified central leader pruning shapes a tree to one | | | | depending on the variety. Fruit is borne on 1- or |
| tall trunk with several major limbs branching off at | | | | 2-year-old wood. |
| different levels. This results in a strong form that will | | | | Peach and nectarine. Train to a vase shape. Fruit is |
| support heavy crops and survive stormy weather. | | | | produced on the previous year's long stems and on |
| The center of the tree is shaded, though, and will not | | | | short-lived spurs. Prune back each of last year's |
| produce much fruit. The taller tree is also more | | | | stems to onehalf its length. Annual pruning is more |
| difficult to prune and harvest. Pecan, walnut, and | | | | critical for peaches and nectarines than for any other |
| other large trees are usually pruned to a modified | | | | fruit tree type. |
| central leader. Dwarf trees can also be trained in this | | | | Pear. Train to a modified central leader with five or |
| style because their small volume does not inhibit | | | | six scaffold branches. Fruit is produced on small, |
| interior fruiting. | | | | long-lived spurs. Prune lightly when of fruiting age. |
| Delayed open center pruning attempts to combine | | | | Plum. Plums are divided into two groups: Japanese |
| the virtues of both vase and central leader pruning | | | | (table plums such as Santa Rosa and Satsuma) and |
| by providing the strength of a central leader and the | | | | European (prunes). They are distinguished by the |
| sunny center of a vase shape. Semidwarf apples, | | | | length of their fruiting spurs. Japanese spurs are 3 |
| other medium-size trees, and fruit trees planted in | | | | inches long. European spurs are up to 3 feet long. |
| lawn areas can be shaped in the delayed open center | | | | Both types bear fruit for 6 to 8 years. Some fruit is |
| style.Training to a vase shape. The scaffold branches | | | | also produced on the previous year's growth. |
| are selected the first winter, when the tree is 1 year | | | | Remove one-third of the new wood each year by |
| old, and developed over the next 2 years. | | | | thinning and shortening. When a branch has produced |
| DEVELOPING VASE SHAPEFollow this sequence for | | | | fruit for 8 years, select a new lateral and remove the |
| vase pruning: | | | | old branch. |
| 1. At planting, cut off the central stem 2 to 3 feet | | | | Thinning fruit Developing fruits should be thinned out |
| above the ground. Prune any side branches back to | | | | on many types of trees. Cherries, citrus, figs, pears, |
| two buds. | | | | and prunes are the exceptions and do not need |
| 2. During the first dormant season (a year after you | | | | thinning. Thinning results in fewer but larger fruits, but |
| plant the tree) remove the leader and direct growth | | | | it should be done before the fruits are half-grown. |
| to three or four strong scaffolds. Choose branches | | | | Thin apricots so that the fruits are 2 to 3 inches |
| that radiate evenly around the trunk. Maintain about 6 | | | | apart; plums, 3 to 4 inches; nectarines, 4 to 5 inches; |
| vertical inches between the branches, and keep the | | | | peaches, 5 to 6 inches; and apples, 8 inches apart, or |
| lowest scaffold at least 18 inches off the ground. | | | | one fruit per spur. |