Fruit Tree Pruning, Instructions

Continuation

You can read the introduction to this article if you have not already done so. It will tell you when is the proper time for pruning fruit trees. Doing it at the wrong time may have devastating effects on the health of your trees. Click the link "Previous Article" above the title on this page. You can also find a link to the introduction in the "Related Articles" below.

Pruning for Optimum Fruit Production

To grow large healthy fruit, it is necessary to reduce the number of fruit on each branch. Here are my basic rules for the procedure:
1. Cut out any dead or damaged branches almost flush with the branch from which they have grown.
2. Cut out the weakest branches and leave only the ones which are strong enough to support the weight of fruit.
3. Don't worry about cutting off too many branches. Everyone makes the mistake of cutting off way too few. If, however, the tree has not been pruned for years, don't try to catch up in one single season. Leave some for next year. Too much pruning at one time can traumatize the tree.
4. Now have a look at all the shoots which have grown since last spring. Each one needs to be shortened severely. There are more than you thought, right? I am sure that you will now want to go back to cut off some more branches before you proceed to the next step.
5. Take another look at just one single new twig which grew in the previous year. Where each leaf has fallen off, you will see one bud. Each of these buds will produce a piece of fruit next season (except for the trees which grow fruit in clusters, like cherries). How many pieces of fruit do you think a branch can support comfortably? That is the number of buds which you leave, snipping the tip of the twig off with sharp pruning sheers. I like to leave 3 or 4 buds.
6. And next winter, I do it all over again. The better I do my job, the larger my fruit. Books usually tell you to leave 5 or 6, but I prefer a lower number for two reasons. I would rather have 1 large apple than 2 smaller ones, and I also like to slow down the growth of the tree. High fruit is difficult to reach.

To Dress of not to Dress

There is no need for covering the wound. If the pruning is done during the dormant period, trees won't bleed. If the pruning is done while the tree is bleeding, the dressing won't do much good anyway, because the sap will bleed right through the dressing. During the dormant period there are no bacteria or pests around which would damage the tree through its wound. At any rate, trees produce their own protection against infection.
The copyright of the article Fruit Tree Pruning, Instructions in Organic Gardens is owned by Traute Klein, biogardener. Permission to republish Fruit Tree Pruning, Instructions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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