What You Need To Know About Pruning Fruit Trees

To get a new fruit tree off on the right foot, nothing is as crucial as proper pruning. Follow our tips to learn how to prune fruit trees correctly and avoid mistakes. The goal with fruit tree pruning is to shape your trees for years of pleasure.

If left untrimmed, fruit trees might labor with growing.

If you encounter drought, they could not grow at all. Furthermore, unpruned trees take a long time to bear fruit. Tree care companies make sure their trees are pruned for correct shaping. Also, trees are trimmed right before packing and shipping.

Why pruning is crucial 

• Survival -- A tree requires pruning to help it live after planting. When you dig, a tree’s roots have been bothered. A tree has misplaced many of its feeder roots which are necessary to absorb nutrients and moisture. However, the top of the tree is full-size. This disparity could cause tree growth to be slow and weak.
• Stimulation -- Trimming your tree back encourages vigorous, healthier growth from the remaining buds. After a growing season, a pruned tree will be larger than an unpruned tree.

Prune trees when they are dormant

Wait until a tree is dormant before pruning. You can easily see where to do your cutting when the leaves are gone. Dormant is in the winter or early springtime. Exact timing will differ by zone, as winter months vary by zone.

Pruning and shaping fruit trees

If you keep up with your shaping and pruning your fruit trees every year, you’ll frequently make easy-to-heal, little cuts.

Help the tree develop a sturdy framework

Get rid of injured, diseased, slender, or weak limbs as well as crossing or forked limbs. Additionally, eliminate upright limbs and any that grow towards the tree’s center.

You want to keep the tree from getting crowded and too thick, as well as staying at a reasonable height. Each one of these goals encourages better bearing, which is your overall objective. Try to give the tree a general shape with your pruning. Keep in mind you also have to let the tree express its distinctiveness.​

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