Pruning fruit trees
Pruning the fruit tree branches aims to extend the harvest life of the tree and to improve the quality of the fruits.
Pruning fruit trees
Pruning the fruit tree branches aims to extend the harvest life of the tree and to improve the quality of the fruits.
When to prune your apple trees
The pruning should be done early in the spring, in March or April, when the buds have not yet opened. Pruning should not be done in freezing weather because a frozen tree breaks easily. If several years have passed since the last pruning, the pruning should be done gradually over a few years rather than pruning a lot in one go.
Why you should prune your apple trees
The purpose of pruning apple trees is for the tree to grow strong branches and an airy crown. This ensures sufficient sunlight for ripening apples and prevents diseases from developing in the crown. Pruning apple tree also keeps the tree to an appropriate height for picking apples.
How to prune apple trees
Sharp branch angles in fruit trees are harmful because the weight of the branch increases when the fruit ripen, and the branch tears easily. In apple trees, the ideal branch angle is as much as 90 degrees. Although branch stubs are not an uncommon sight in apple trees, branches should always be removed down to the trunk.
Note! These pruning instructions also applies to pear trees.
When to prune cherry and plum trees
Cherry and plum trees have a strong flow of liquids in the spring, meaning that they need to be pruned in late winter. Pruning in late summer is not recommended because the cutting points are prone to spores spreading fungal diseases in late summer and early fall. However, thin branches can be pruned in the fall as well.
How to prune plum and cherry trees?
Plum and cherry trees need very little pruning. Dried and damaged branches are removed as necessary. The crown can be thinned to enable light to reach the fruit better. This helps the fruit ripen fully and become larger. Root suckers emerging near the tree from the ground should be removed as they appear.
