Almond tree pruning in 5 steps

Every year spring dresses whole areas of the island of Mallorca in a soft pink dress made from millions of tiny almond blossoms. People travel from far and wide to experience this magical moment up close. A tree that arouses so much enthusiasm has to be something special. That is why it is certainly to be found in gardens in this country as well. Does the right cut spur him on to new flower records?

Is cutting a must?

If an almond tree is left alone by the secateurs and the pruning saw, it will still grow and thrive. Only then will it grow as nature shapes it. The wind and light, for example, determine the direction in which the branches grow. And since nature also loves unusual shapes, you may or may not like them very much. A desired growth habit, but also other reasons suggest a cut. Timely planning makes more sense than making subsequent corrections. Even when planting a young almond tree, considerations must be made and all necessary information obtained.

What are the advantages of a cut?

Every cut has an impact on the growth of the almond tree, the development of the flower and the harvest. If the cut is carried out professionally and at the appropriate time, the resulting changes are consistently positive.

• the leaf dress becomes thicker
• the crown gets a nicer shape
• Growth is stimulated
• Lifespan of the almond tree is extended
• Diseases are combated successfully
• an even more exuberant bloom follows

If the almond tree was not cut at a young age, later cuts can still be useful. If used correctly, they can still bring one or the other advantage.

The right cutting tool

As good as the intentions are when pruning, if the pruning is not carried out professionally, the plant can be damaged. In addition to the right cutting technique, the right cutting tool is particularly important. Blunt blades lead to pinching of the shoots. Torn wound surfaces are created that only slowly heal again. In addition, there is then an increased risk of fungal attack. Use only suitable and sharp tools.

• Rose scissors for thin shoots
• Loppers for thick branches
• Tree saw for thick branches

The cutting tool must be cleaned very thoroughly before each use. It then has to be disinfected in order to kill any pathogens that may adhere to it. This is the only way to reliably prevent the spread of diseases. The gardening gloves deserve special attention in this regard. Disinfect old gardening gloves before cutting or play it safe and use new, unused gloves.

Wound sealing

At the latest when a larger almond tree is cut, the topic of wound sealing comes up. Until the individual interfaces heal, they are like open gates that offer access to all possible pathogens. The larger an interface, the longer this process takes and the longer it is a target for diseases. For this reason, cut surfaces with a diameter of 2 cm or more are sealed immediately after the cut. A wax is used for sealing, which is offered in stores specifically for this purpose. Charcoal powder is also suitable for this. Obtain the sealing material in good time so that you can apply it immediately after cutting.

Possible types of cuts

The upbringing pattern is usually applied annually from a young age and is used for shaping. It depends on whether an almond tree or an almond bush is growing in the garden and which type of growth the owner prefers. Rejuvenating pruning can breathe new life into old trees. It helps them to shoot young, more flowers and fruits. The clearing is done at regular intervals of a few years and ensures that the wood is freed from too many branches and so the whole almond tree gets more light again.
Whenever the branches are attacked by fungi or are weakened by pests, they must be cut away. As the last pruning variant, the radical pruning is a rescue method when the almond tree no longer wants to thrive. The best time to cut depends on the type of cut.

The upbringing cut

The upbringing cut is carried out after flowering. However, it is also possible to pick up the scissors a second time after the harvest in October. The aim of these pruning measures is to give the tree or shrub the desired shape and size. If the branches are cut evenly in height once or twice, the tree will grow in width. If, on the other hand, side shoots are shortened, the growth in height is promoted. Width and height are limited by cutting all shoots back to the desired length. If only a certain growth habit is to be preserved, only the protruding branches have to be removed.

A high trunk is a popular shape for ornamental trees. If you want to achieve such a shape for your almond tree, you should start with the appropriate upbringing at an early stage. Proceed as follows for the young almond tree:

1. Pick a trunk that is thick and well grown.

2. Cut away any other trunks and twigs that are below the desired crown height.

3. Shorten all of the top shoots by a third in the first year.

4. From the second year on, cut only the tips of the branches to achieve dense branching.

5. Regularly free the sapling from unwanted new shoots from May to October.

Tip: Attach a stick next to the trunk and tie it to it. He gives him stability and also ensures an upright growth. When the tree has grown stronger, the stick can be removed again.

The clearing cut

The clearing cut, also known as the clearing cut, is carried out as required. If the plant has grown too much and the branches are dense, they will take away light from each other. The result is that some branches no longer grow optimally and can hardly or no leaves form. Especially when the almond plant grows as a shrub, a clearing is due every two to three years. From May, immediately after flowering, is the optimal time for such pruning measures. As with every cut, when cutting the clearing, it is important to ensure that the cutting tool is sharp, clean and disinfected. It doesn't matter whether the tree is healthy or not.

1. Remove dried branches completely.

2. Completely remove very thin shoots.

3. Eliminate all wild shoots.

4. Branches that grow inward can also be removed.

5. Cut branches that cross close to each other.

6. Throw out branches whose direction of growth does not match the tree

7. Biennial shoots have already bloomed and can be cut back into the old wood.

Tip: Don't be too hesitant about cutting. It is better to cut off a little more than too little. The almond tree tolerates the pruning measures well and is soon sprouting diligently.

The taper cut

When an almond tree, botanically Prunus dulcis, gets old, its development often comes to a standstill. A taper cut can neither give it momentum. It receives fresh energy and sprouts like a young almond tree. The result will be more flowers and more fruit. The rejuvenation pruning is carried out early in the spring, even before the almond tree has sprouted again. Make sure that the temperature of at least 5 degrees required for woody plants is given. A dry and sunny day should be chosen for this cut.

1. Cut the oldest shoots off the shrub just above the ground. They are easy to recognize by their cracked bark. They are also darker than young shoots.

2. New shoots should be shortened except for a few eyes.

3. Throw out the tree generously.

The radical cut

If new shoots, blossoms or fruits no longer develop on the almond tree, this could be due to incorrect care or a lack of pruning. If the whole tree threatens to die off, there is often only one last attempt at rescue: the radical cut. It must not take place on frosty days, not even if frosts are not to be expected until the following days. Otherwise the wood is too brittle for a clean cut. In addition, frostbite can occur on the larger cuts. The temperature should be at least above 5 degrees Celsius. A dry and sunny day is ideal. Moisture would slow wound healing. Moisture combined with warmth promotes the growth of the mushrooms, which can easily penetrate the open cuts.

• Shorten the main branches to two centimeters
• Leave three to five leading branches
• cut diagonally
• seal large cuts with charcoal powder or wax

Tip: It is best to wait until the ice saints in May with the radical cut. After that, no more frost is expected until September.

Cut in case of illness

Almond trees often suffer from the fungal disease Molinia. It is also known as the peak drought. It is the most common disease in almond trees and it can be dangerous for them. The infestation usually occurs after the end of the flowering phase or in autumn. New shoots begin to wither and become withered. The transition points from diseased to healthy wood are covered with a rubbery mass. The tree defends itself against the disease with a rejection reaction. All infected shoots must be cut immediately, otherwise the attack will spread to the entire plant in a few weeks.
It is absolutely important:

• act immediately
• remove all infected shoots
• Cut into healthy wood, the cut surface should be green
• with heavy infestation, almond trees by at least reduce by a third
• Disinfect cutting tool
• Dispose of sick parts of plants safely in household waste

Note: It is necessary that the almond tree is checked for fungal attack in the following year. Possibly. would have to follow further cutting measures.