Before heading out the door to do the long-put-off task of pruning our fruit trees, I decided to give myself a quick refresher.
- Prune with a purpose. Today it’s about the health maintenance of the tree, increased fruit yield, keeping fruit within reach, allowing light and air into the interior of the tree.
- Take mostly thinning cuts. Follow branches all the way back to parent branch or trunk and cut out side the branch collar. (The wrinkly bit.) Don’t leave stubs that allow pathogens a way in, or do flush cuts that are difficult to compartmentalize.
- Take less than 30% of the total canopy. So I have to remember how much incidental pruning I’ve already done this year. Deadwood doesn’t count towards the 30%.
Tool Rules
I’m guilty of using the wrong tool for the branch diameter.
- Note: Only use bypass pruners and loppers, as anvils crush and damage tissues.
- Hand Pruners: branches less than 1/4 inch in diameter.
- Loppers: branches less than 1/2 inch in diameter.
- Handsaw: For anything too big for loppers.
Do you have any pruning tips to share?
Let’s go! We’ve only got a few sunny days left before the rains come back. Meet you out there!
For more tips about fruit tree, cane, and rose pruning, check out my Pruning Primer.
Second Breakfast Gardens 