What is the best month to prune apple trees?
For apple and pear trees this is best done between November and March, while the tree is dormant and preferably during dry, frost-free weather. Winter pruning encourages strong spring growth, and the lack of leaves means you can better see the structure and shape of your tree. If you prune too many branches off a fruit tree you can kill the tree. And even if the tree does not die, it will produce water sprouts, straight up and down branches that do not produce fruit. Never prune off more than 20% of an old apple tree each year.Pruning fruit trees during fall is generally a bad idea. Instead, trim them in late winter or early spring, when the trees are dormant. However, you can still remove dry, damaged, or dead branches in fall.Pruning makes trees easier to spray and harvest. Pruning young trees can improve structural strength and induce branching. Pruning mature trees can increase their production and improve fruit quality. Pruning reduces the need to prop up fruit-laden branches.Free-standing apple and pear trees should be pruned every winter to keep them productive and control their size. Maintaining an open-centred crown with well-spaced branches helps to ensure trees stay healthy and bear good quality fruit.Apples rarely fruit on upright growth so leave most of the lateral growth and prune off the uptight growrh but less pruning encourages more fruit. Tip pruning on young apples and many other fruit trees encourages more branching and a lot more laterals while the tree is still young.
What branches to cut when pruning?
Pruning for plant health focuses on removing dead, dying and diseased branches, branches that rub together, and any branch stubs so the entire tree continues to grow in a healthy way. Always Remember the 1/3 and 1/4 Rule when Pruning The 1/3 Rule states that the side branches on a tree should have a diameter at least one-third smaller than the tree’s trunk. Once branches become too large, they use significant energy but give very little back to the tree’s growth, so it’s best to take them off.Always cut a branch back to the base or to a side shoot or fruiting bud. Don’t be afraid to have a go! If you stick with the basic rule to prune out dead, damaged or diseased wood and follow the principles above you can’t go far wrong.A common mistake made by those unfamiliar with tree pruning is to take off too much. Trimming can be tricky, and it often takes a trained eye to judge how much to remove. You can always take off more, but you can’t put the cut branches back on the tree, so to avoid over-pruning, take off only a little at a time.Try to stagger your pruning cuts throughout the canopy. That way, the regrowth too will be even. If you only prune the top branches, this is where all the new growth will shoot up from, giving you a thicket of young, non-fruiting shoots that you’ll just end up pruning off every year in exasperation (see gallery image).
When should you not prune?
During drought. Drought-stressed plants usually direct all available moisture to essential plant needs. Pruning during drought diverts water from essential plant needs and often results in overall plant dieback. Wait to prune until the plant is fully hydrated, even if that time is the following growing season. Start by giving your tree a deep watering immediately after pruning, which reduces stress and encourages recovery. For the first few weeks, check the soil moisture regularly and water deeply every 7 to 10 days, depending on the weather and soil conditions.
Where to cut when pruning?
Make the first cut (A) from below the branch, 4 to 12 inches away from the final cut, and one-quarter to one-third of the way through the branch. Make the second cut (B) 1 to 2 inches further out the branch and all the way through. The portion beyond B will fall, and any tear in the bark will stop at A. Here is how to perform the 3-Cut Method: We make the first cut under the branch to keep it from peeling bark from the underside. This cut should be made approximately 2–3 inches from the branch collar. With the first cut in place, we move our hand saw beyond this cut, to approximately 4–5 inches from the branch collar.
What is the difference between pruning and trimming?
While both involve cutting branches or stems, pruning focuses on improving plant health, structure, and productivity, while trimming is primarily about aesthetics and maintaining a tidy appearance. Over-pruning your plants can result in stunted growth, reduced foliage, and increased interior sprouting. These signs indicate that your plants may be struggling to recover from excessive pruning. Plants that are pruned excessively will have stunted growth because they won’t have enough energy to recover.Few plants are pruned this time of year because pruning encourages new growth that does not have time to harden off before winter. Late-season pruning typically does more harm than good.