Do you ever notice how some fruit trees bear loads of healthy fruit, while yours is struggling to produce a meager harvest? Proper pruning may be the key difference. Pruning fruit trees is part art, part science, and always a good idea if you want robust trees that produce lots of fruit. A few things you should know about fruit tree pruning:
Timing is everything. Many, but not all, fruit trees should be pruned between late November and mid-February, during their dormant season. Fruits such as apples, pears, figs and pomegranates are all best pruned in fall and winter, depending on the tree variety. However, apricots must be pruned in the summer after fruiting, and olives are best pruned during the bloom period. Citrus and persimmons require pruning in the early years, but once established do fine with little or no pruning.
Know where to snip. Not all trees are pruned the same way. Pruning for shape alone will not always result in optimal fruit production. Some trees require up to 45% of branches be pruned, while others need only half that amount. And it’s important to understand the physiology of the tree: how old is the wood where the fruit is growing? Which branches were producing last year, and the year before? Where on the branch is the bud or fruit spur?
The right tools for the job. Pruning tools mainly consist of shears, loppers and saws made for cutting cleanly through a variety of branch sizes. And of course, a stable ladder is helpful, especially an extra tall orchard ladder for those hard to reach top branches. All of these tools need to be properly sharpened and maintained, and used with care to avoid accidents and injury.
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Dig Deeper
- If you want to dive into details, we recommend The California Backyard Orchard, produced by the University of California.
- For a comprehensive (and mouth-watering) resource, check out the Harmony Farm Supply and Nursery 2019 Bare Root Catalog.
Ask us, we’re experts! Tree pruning requires specialized knowledge and skills. Our staff includes a certified arborist, and we can bring that expertise to give your fruit (and other) trees the care they need to thrive for years to come. For those who are motivated to do their own tree maintenance, we can also train you in the fundamentals of fruit tree pruning. Give us a call to learn more: 707-789-9786.
