Pruning Season is Upon Us! My Pruning Primer will Get you Cutting with Confidence

Pruning Primer for Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, and Canes

Today, I took advantage of the dry-ish weather to get cutting. First, I pruned back and shaped the table grapes. I saved some of the lower cuttings for propagating for a friend. The branches nearest to the ground generally have more natural rooting hormone present.

Next up were the two apple trees. I took any branches that were shooting straight up, crossing branches, and broken branches. I took a few that were very close to one another. I stayed well under the max 30% though, so as to not invoke survival growth.

Lastly, I gave the elderberries a hasty pruning. One struggling shrub, I cut back hard to provoke regenerative growth. The other, got a light trim, mostly to keep the berries within reach and on our side of the fence. I also saved a few elderberry canes for propagating for another friend.

I poked all my propagation cuttings in a large pot with soil and cleaned up the rest of the trimmings.

Now, rosy with cold, I’m warming up by the fire and writing to you, my friends.

Happy cutting! May it improve your summer fruit harvest!🍎🍇💚