Why, How and when to prune a fruit tree?

Fruit trees must be pruned regularly to remain productive; doing it wrong can indeed be more harmful than beneficial. Find out how to properly prune a fruit tree.

PRUNE YOUR TREES TO STIMULATE THEIR GROWTH

If you own a fruit tree, you probably want it to bear a lot of fruit. A pruning schedule will make all the difference to the health of the tree and its yield. Pruning annually stimulates new growth and maintains the vitality of your fruit trees, resulting in better health and quality fruit. When you prune, you also ventilate the crown, which allows the air to circulate better, thus preventing the occurrence of fungal diseases and pests.

WHEN TO PRUNE FRUIT TREES (APPLE AND PEAR TREES)

It depends on the type of tree and the yield you want. Apple and pear trees will appreciate pruning between November and April. The first years, however, wait until spring because the wood remains very sensitive to severe frosts. If you want to stimulate their growth, prune these fruit trees during the colder months. At this time of year, they are in the resting phase and store nutrients in the roots, waiting to release them when the growing season begins again. The end of winter, before the arrival of the first buds, is the ideal period because the tree heal faster with the spring growth spurt, which reduces the risk of infection. It is also possible to prune in the spring, but this will stimulate less vigorous growth.

HOW TO PRUNE WELL

The amount of pruning to be done has a considerable influence on the future growth of your fruit trees: the more winter pruning, the more bids you will have in the summer, while softer pruning will reduce growth. Equally important is the method used.

HOW TO PRUNE A FRUIT TREE: OUR ADVICE

1. Always cut close to a bud. The buds are the starting point for new growth on your tree and are located where the sap is most concentrated. If you cut the buds too far, you risk causing a sore that will dry out and block the next growing spot. Take a bud facing outward (to give an open shape) and cut 1-3 cm above it.
2. Be careful not to leave small stumps when cutting the branches, as dead wood promotes rot and mold. Always cut as close as possible to the base of a branch, without touching the trunk.
3. If you need to remove a large branch, take it in stages to avoid damaging the bark or tearing the wood. Finish by cutting as close as possible to the main trunk.
4. Prune to maintain the shape of your fruit trees. During the first year of growth, it is very important to give the crown a pyramidal shape, consisting of a central branch and three or four side branches. Subsequently, all the side branches will have to be shortened in the same proportions, while the main branch will be 20 cm longer.
5. Remove suckers in early summer. Fruit trees are often grafted onto a rootstock to achieve more vigorous growth than that of the original variety. After pruning a grafted fruit tree, you may see many shoots appear at the base of the tree: these are the suckers. You have to remove them because they are pumping energy from the tree.

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