How to prune small fruit trees

When to prune small fruit trees

Generally, fruit trees are pruned in October in late autumn or before the arrival of winter. It is best to prune when the fruit trees are not growing, which can reduce the consumption of nutrients by other diseased and dead branches and cause poor plant growth.

You should choose fruit trees that are easy to survive by cuttings, and take propagation branches from healthy mother plants. The branches should be of medium size, with at least 2 nodes. The base incision should be just below the node, and the incision should be inclined. Cuttings should be taken in spring from March to May.

Small fruit tree pruning

There are three main methods for pruning fruit trees. The first method is to retain other side branches growing on the main branch. The second method is to perform ring peeling on the seedlings to control the growth height of the tree. The third method is to use the main branch as the center and extend the branches next to it in an umbrella shape during the adult stage.

1. Pinching the fruit trees when they begin to grow new branches can effectively prevent the plants from growing too tall, and can increase the fruit-bearing rate and the number of flowers in the next year.

2. When pruning fruit trees, you can cut off dense branches, crossed branches, diseased and dead branches, etc., which can concentrate nutrients and promote the growth of remaining branches.

Small fruit tree pruning tips

The pruning of small fruit trees mainly involves cutting off overgrown branches, drooping branches, overcrowded branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and weak branches, which can increase the fruit yield of the fruit trees. Pruning is to shape the fruit trees.

Small fruit trees should be pruned again before flowering. Depending on the tree species, it is usually the early sprouting varieties, or large trees and weak trees that are pruned first, and then the young and vigorous trees are pruned again. Spring pruning can reduce the vigor of the trees, moderate the tree vigor, increase the germination rate of the remaining buds, and help promote the growth of medium and short branches.

Small fruit tree pruning and flowering

Small fruit trees need to have their branches shortened to improve uniform sunlight exposure, enhance the growth of local branches, and promote the differentiation of flower buds, allowing them to bloom more flowers.

Small fruit tree pruning results

When the small fruit trees enter the initial fruiting period, the number of main branches has been selected enough and the crown basically fills the space. When pruning, the extension heads of the main branches do not need to be shortened anymore. Only the upright and vigorous branches need to be appropriately thinned out.

Small fruit tree pruning precautions

Summer is the peak growth season for fruit trees, which is the peak period for nutrient consumption and production. It is also the period when the contradiction between the plant's vegetative growth and reproductive growth is most prominent. Therefore, do not prune too heavily.