Orchard Tree Pruning

Orchard Tree Pruning
Orchard fruit trees are often pruned differently than landscape fruit trees, whose function is aesthetics first. One difference is pruning for size control; growers like to keep fruit trees at a manageable size. Another common objective is fruit production. Pruning is done to set up new growth for future years’ flowering, eliminating or reducing overbearing branches to reduce breakage, and keeping the canopy open enough for subsequent work. The pruning itself, fruit thinning, pest control measures, and harvesting are easier on managed trees.
Young fruit trees are pruned to grow into a desired form. For many stone fruits, like peaches and plums, this is often the “open vase” form. These trees have three to four main scaffold branches supporting the smaller fruiting wood and are open in the center to allow for good sunlight penetration.
Apples and pears are usually pruned to a “modified central leader system”, with one main trunk and short, chunky side branches with fruiting spurs on them. The spurs are short, stubby branches that produce the fruit; each one lives for several years. They grow from branches that are two to five years old.
Trees are pruned to control the levels of fruit production – too much is as bad as not enough. That includes both setting up future-fruiting wood growth, and sometimes removing current fruiting wood. Knowing what to take and what to leave comes with experience. Legacy Tree Company has the knowledge and experience to do this work – give us a call!
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