ADVERTISING - ADVERTORIAL: Dormant season pruning, Part III

The last two weeks, we have talked about dormant pruning of landscape shade and ornamental trees. Most people think of fruit trees as the primary focus this time of year, so we need to hit that topic as well.

I have written in-depth articles about fruit tree pruning over the years, but this will be a general overview.

This past November, I visited two old fruit trees way up in the Coeur d'Alene National Forest that were part of an old homestead. They have never been pruned and are still producing apples, so this begs the question. Why prune fruit trees? While there are several reasons, the primary objectives is quality of fruit and packability. Those old apple trees I mentioned had lots of apples, but most of them were out of reach and on the smaller side. Proper pruning will help develop a branch framework that makes harvesting fruit easier to pick and improve the quantity and quality of fruit.

Without going into great detail, fruit tree pruning is done through careful reduction and containment-style pruning cuts. The remaining branch framework should support fruit at a pickable level and have a balance of fruit bearing branches and leaf bearing branches. The biggest mistake I see made by homeowners is that they remove all upright or primary leaf bearing branches. A tree cannot stay alive without leaves, and if you have removed all those, its first response of the growing season will be to replace those branches. This takes a lot of energy away from fruit production. Again, on a properly pruned fruit tree, each branch will have a balance of fruit bearing wood AND leaf bearing wood, which is done through thinning, reduction and containment pruning.

We often get asked to prune old fruit trees that have not been pruned for many years, or possibly ever. I use the analogy of going to a senior assisted living facility to see who wants to participate in Ironman. You would not consider asking elderly folks such a silly request. It is much like that for an old fruit tree. We might structure prune and thin, but never reduce it back harshly expecting it to produce fruit at a pickable level.

Pruning a fruit tree is best started when it is young and maintained annually as it grows.

Next week, we will wrap up this topic with some final tips and thoughts on fruit trees.

As always, for further tree-related questions, need a quote or consultation, give us a call today, 208-762-5800!

For more information on Grace Tree Service, check out our website at gracetreeservice.com.