Pruning Fruit Trees Properly: Expert Guide

Those who love their fruit trees know that they need to be pruned regularly. The right cut is important for health and yield. We'll show you how to do it.

How to properly prune a fruit tree depends on many different factors. So the demands of different types of the perfect cut are very different. But it is definitely worth striving to prune the fruit trees in your own garden in the right way. Because on the one hand, the harvest and the health of the tree can be increased, and a respectable growth form of the tree can be maintained.

Fruit trees: when to cut?

The question of all questions is when is the right time to prune the fruit tree. Here, too, no general statement can be made for all fruit trees. First of all, you should know what kind of fruit tree it is:

• Stone fruitsuch as B. Cherry trees (Sweet cherry: Prunus avium, Sour cherry: Prunus cerasus), Peach trees (Prunus persica), Plum trees (Prunus domestica), Mirabelle trees (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca)
• Pome fruitsuch as B. Apple trees (Malus), Pear trees (Pyrus), Quince trees (Cydonia oblonga)

In general, fruit trees are either subjected to a winter pruning (January to early April) and / or a summer pruning (July to August). The two types of cuts, categorized according to the seasons, are characterized by the following:

• Winter pruning:
  Since the tree has no leaves, you have a good view of all branches. The winter pruning has a growth-stimulating effect on the tree and is therefore particularly suitable for weakly growing fruit trees. In addition, the cut can be made in the low-work winter. The disadvantage is that the cut wound only overgrows with a protective layer relatively delayed.
• Summer cut:
  With summer pruning, in contrast to winter pruning, the cuts quickly close again. In addition, the growth of strongly growing fruit trees can be slowed down, as essential leaf mass (which is relevant for the photosynthesis processes) is taken from them for their growth. Therefore, the summer pruning is particularly useful when a strong winter pruning is followed by a strong new shoot. This can then be thinned out by one to two thirds in summer. Due to the full foliage, it can be difficult, even with a trained eye, to skillfully assess which branches should give way and which should not.

The general rule for stone fruits is that they can cope better with a summer pruning after or during the harvest. With pome fruits like apples and pears, it makes sense to find a healthy balance between the summer and winter pruning in order to achieve perfect growth.

Pruning fruit trees: when allowed?

When pruning in the garden, consideration must be given to nature and the laws. The Federal Nature Conservation Act, for example, provides for the protection of the breeding seasons of birds that from March 1st to March 30th. September no radical pruning may be made. Form and maintenance measures - i.e. the classic hedge pruning or even the fruit tree pruning - are permitted, however. However, special municipal regulations, which can arise, for example, due to the presence of a protected animal species, must be observed.

Conclusion: The shaping and caring pruning of the fruit tree can be carried out at any time, even in summer. However, specific special regulations may have to be observed depending on the municipality.

Pruning fruit trees in frost

When pruning in winter, it can be unavoidable to cut the fruit tree in frosty weather. However, this is not a problem as long as the temperatures do not permanently drop below -5 ° C.

For wound closure, it is important to cut the trees on a dry day so that not too much Moisture and with it possibly fungal spores or other pathogens in the fresh cut be carried in.

Pruning young fruit trees

Even with young trees you can decide with the pruning whether the later growth form of the tree succeeds or later ends in a nightmare. It is therefore important to be concerned with the optimal pruning of the fruit trees while the fruit trees are being planted.

Plant pruning

The first cut of the tree is made with the planting. In addition to the growth-giving shape, this cut is also extremely important for successful growth. Most of the time, fruit trees are planted as bales and the pruning steals the tree's roots, which are responsible for the adequate supply of water and nutrients. The plant pruning again ensures a balanced relationship between crowns and root mass. The main shoot is shortened. Side shoots are thinned out (vertical shoots especially) and those that are retained are also shortened (at a level but slightly lower than the main shoot).

Parenting pruning of young fruit trees

In order to direct the growth of young fruit trees in the right direction, regular training prunings are required after successful planting. Here, important decisions must first be made and suitable branches defined as so-called guide branches. Branches that are neither too horizontal nor too vertical are suitable for this. Healthy and strong branches should of course be preferred as leading shoots. These are shortened at the top in the annual parental cuts. In addition, the following pruning measures must be observed in the important pruning of young fruit trees:

• Completely cut out side shoots growing vertically from the main branch
• Clearly thin out the shoots growing inwards into the tree
• Do not shorten any side shoots remaining on the main branch

Pruning old fruit trees

At some point the pruning of young trees is complete and they have reached their main growth habit. From now on it is important to subject the tree to a clearing cut on a regular basis. The golden rule here is: Do not remove or shorten all of the annual wood. That would let the tree's growth get out of control and result in too much new growth. It is therefore particularly important to remove branches and side shoots when pruning that prevent other shoots from developing too much.

Pruning fruit trees: the right tool

A large number of different tools are available for pruning fruit trees. It is above all personal preference and handling that should decide on the selection. However, it is important that loppers, saws and the like are always sharp in order to achieve the smoothest possible cut surface or wound on the tree. This makes it easier for the fruit tree to overgrow the cut surface. Here is an overview of suitable tools for pruning fruit trees:

• Secateurs:
  Suitable for thin, easily accessible branches; easy handling; However, thicker branches can quickly become bruised
• Loppers:
  Also good handling for easily accessible, slightly thicker branches
• Pruning saw:
  Good for thick branches that have to give way when cutting out the clearing
• Telescopic saw:
  Well suited for passionate fruit cutters who do not like to climb ladders; ideal for tall branches that are otherwise inaccessible

These products are ideal for cutting your shrubs, hedges and trees:

• Felco secateurs: Manual pruning, pruning and pruning shears recommended for all types of cutting. In addition to plastic-coated handles, it has a precision adjustment system for the blade and anvil blade.
• Felco fruit tree and secateurs: Robust fruit tree and secateurs with wire cutter, sap groove and micrometer adjustment.
• Gardena telescopic arm scissors: Practical secateurs for effortless cutting of tall trees and dense shrubs from the ground.

Pruning fruit trees correctly: step-by-step instructions

1. ID:
   What kind of fruit tree is it? Is it a stone fruit (cherry, plum) or a stone fruit (apple, pear)?
2. Find the finishing agency:
   Especially important with young trees. Most of the fruit trees in our gardens are grafted - this means that a noble variety with particularly tasty fruits has been combined with a base with certain growth characteristics. If you cut below the refinement point, only the unwanted base grows out again and the delicious fruits stay out. The refinement point can usually be recognized by a thick nub below the branches on the trunk of the fruit tree.
3. Opt for winter or summer cut
4. Pay attention to the needs of old and young fruit trees
5. Select a suitable cutting tool
6. Make the right choice and cut branches
7. Observe the new growth of the fruit tree and learn for the next cut

Properly prune apple trees and other fruit trees

At the beginning we already noticed that not all fruit trees are the same. Depending on the type, there are specific requirements for the optimal cut. Therefore take a look at our articles on the detailed pruning measures for the individual fruit tree species:

• Pruning apple tree
• Cutting pear tree
• Cut cherry tree
• Pruning peach tree
• Cut the plum tree