When is the best time to prune peach trees?

Peach Tree Overview

Peach trees prefer an environment with plenty of sunlight, have strong germination ability, and are very resistant to pruning. New shoots grow many times a year. Young and vigorous trees can grow four branches. The fruiting period is early, with the peak fruiting period being 5 to 15 years. They begin to decline after 15 years. Their lifespan is closely related to the type of rootstock selected, the maintenance environment, and the level of cultivation management.

Peach tree pruning time

Peach trees are mainly pruned during the winter dormancy period and the summer growing season. Winter pruning can generally be done from the end of nutrient return half a month after leaf fall to before budding the following year. Winter pruning in the Yellow River Basin and north of my country is better done in early spring, while in early winter in the south. Pruning can be done at any time as needed during the growing season.

Peach tree pruning method

1. Light pruning mainly involves pruning off the blind nodes on the upper part of the peach branches. The pruning amount is very light, which can increase the germination rate, enhance the branching ability, and increase the total growth of the branches.

2. Medium-short pruning generally means cutting off half of the total length of the peach tree's annual branches. The new shoots that sprout in the second year generally grow very weakly.

3. Heavy, medium and short pruning requires greater force, generally cutting off two-thirds of the total length of the peach tree's one-year-old branches. The new shoots that sprout in the second year generally grow stronger, and the leggy fruiting branches and leggy branches that serve as main branches or side branches can be pruned away.

4. Heavy pruning means cutting off three quarters of the total length of the peach tree's annual branches. The new shoots that sprout in the second year will grow vigorously.

Peach tree pruning precautions

1. Pay attention to leaving renewal branches, and do not pay attention to the fruit branches grown from the preparatory branches. If you use "double-branch renewal" pruning for a long time, the original branches will not grow thick fruit branches after a few years, which will affect the stability of the high yield of peach trees.

2. The buds of the peach tree grow vigorously, and most of the flower buds will not grow. They need to be pruned as soon as possible to reduce nutrient consumption. Proper pruning can increase ventilation, reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests, and improve fruit quality to achieve the goals of high yield, stable yield, high quality, and long-term effect. The best pruning time is from November to December, when the plants enter a dormant period and the damage to the peach trees is minimal.