Pruning a tree

Pruning is nothing more than helping a plant do what you want it to do. So, with this definition, you can become a qualified pruner. Who better knows what you want your plant to do?

Let's talk about fruit tree pruning and shaping a tree like you want, making it healthier, and more productive. First, let's take out broken and dead limbs. Cut these back to a live limb or the trunk. This will help stop decay and insure quicker healing.

Next look for limbs that cross, rub, or those in competition for sunlight. Remove one limb from those that are rubbing or the limb which is shading the better limb.

To prune a tree to health is to help it become productive. You can now focus on helping the tree yield better fruit. You can thin wood that is past bearing to allow new wood to replace it, or remove some wood so the tree can bear larger and better quality fruit.

We must remember that fruit like peaches and nectarines are borne on wood that grew last year, so we need to be selective in our pruning to leave some of this growth for this year's crop. We also take out some old wood to encourage new growth for next year's crop.

Where fruit like cherries, plums, pears, and apples is borne on older wood, we prune with the above mentioned in mind. Plus, we prune for some renewal wood to keep replacing limbs that are bearing proportionally less.

While we do not prune just to be pruning – remember, we are shaping our tree for appearance too. A little convenience is in order to bring down height and remove lower limbs so we can mow under the tree.

Yes, we have to make some decisions while pruning, but when we begin with an end in mind the job seems easier.