PRUNING YOUR FRUIT TREES - PLAN FIRST

A tree in your garden is like a good friend, and the thought of going out and cutting off a limb can be frightening. But fear not, pruning is not that difficult and will probably improve the growth of your friend rather than being detrimental to its health.

I teach many pruning courses and the biggest problem I see is that people do not plan ahead before they go out with the pruning tools. A tree, especially an older tree that has not been pruned for many years, can be a tangle of branches. Trouble can occur if you just start cutting without planning.

The first question you need to ask is, what am I trying to achieve? Am I pruning to keep the tree smaller, to improve production or just to improve it’s overall appearance? Each of these reasons requires a different approach. A little research will take you a long way toward determining what approach you need to take to achieve the desired result. Take the time to learn the basics about the parts of a tree and how trees grow. If you understand a bit about tree growth you will begin to understand how the tree might respond to the pruning cuts you make. There are many good books available on the subject of pruning that will tell you about the basic cuts and the trees response to these cuts. If you understand a bit about the expected responses, you can plan to make your cuts in the most beneficial way to achieve your ultimate goal.

It’s time to assemble your tools. You should find the right tools for the job you plan to do. Again a little research will go a long way. The staff at your local garden center will be able to provide helpful advice. If you are pruning one tree once a year you certainly don’t have to invest a fortune in tools.

The time has come to go out and get started. On you first trip to the garden you should have only one item in hand. That is a roll of flagging material. Mark the branches you think you need to cut with the ribbon, then stand back and take a good look at the tree. Walk around it and try to visualize it without those branches. I often will leave the tree like this for a few days, and look at it every time I walk by, to be sure I’m heading in the direction I want to go. Remember that one branch can fill out to be a large portion of the tree, so be sure you are aware of what branch is attached to what.

If you are pruning an older overgrown tree, it may take you a few years to do a complete restoration pruning job. As a general rule, no more than a third of the total canopy should be removed at one time. Be sure to consider this when you are planning your pruning. Perhaps deciding to thin out some of the smaller branches the first year, then taking some of the larger branches over the next two years.

With some planning you can approach your pruning with confidence, ending up with a healthier, more productive and better looking friend in your garden.

Amanda Chedzoy

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