Pruning a fruit tree sounds like a hard task for some gardeners, since the tree’s thick and tall branches appear to be impossible to reach and prune. Gardening, on the other hand, could be simple and enjoyable with correct pruning techniques and the necessary tools.
To maintain healthy and fruitful growth, pruning is highly recommended. Not only does it encourage tree development, but it also increases fruit yield and helps maintain its structure. Remove branches that are sick, damaged, or dead. Cut limbs that compete with one another to ensure that all the branches receive adequate light.
When Should You Prune Your Fruit Trees
Pruning should be done in the end of winter or beginning of spring. During this season, the tree is still dormant, and productive growth has yet to begin. The ideal time to trim most fruit trees is in the winter - like pruning apple trees, which is best to be done in the late winter, just before the spring.
In the summer, remove any damaged or diseased branches. Conducting some moderate pruning in the sunny season is advisable to keep your fruit tree healthy all year long. But do not trim heavily, otherwise you will risk delaying the growth of the fruit and exposing it to sunburn.
General Pruning Guide
Although it is true that various fruits are trimmed in different ways, there is a basic three-step technique that works for a great significant number of fruit trees.
1. First Step is Cleaning
Begin by clipping away any decayed, damaged, or sick wood. The goal of removing unhealthy branches is to maintain cleanliness that prevents infection transmission and destroys the tree, as well as harming nearby trees.
Remove sprouts from the trunk's base. These are called suckers, and they come from the rootstock. If they are not removed, they will drain the tree's nourishment and, in some cases, they will overgrow the main plant, frequently leading to the primary graft to die.
Cut off any unusually vertical sprouts that appear to be developing near the main branches. They are easily recognized since they differ from the rest of the tree's normal growth. Waterspouts are these tall, completely straight shoots. If left untrimmed, water shoots will form into an extension of the tree's main stem, destroying the tree's structure.
2. Second Step is Thinning
Thinning is done to let more light and air into the crown by pruning any stems that extend towards the ground and towards the core of the tree, or go along with the next branch. The purpose is to keep branches from crossing each other; otherwise, air flow would be restricted, promoting parasites and diseases. Keep trimming the tree to achieve a distance of 15-30 cm between each branch.
Then, clip any clustered branches. These are twigs that are randomly spread and appear irregularly, it can usually be found near the tip of a branch.
To ensure healthy and top-quality fruit, thinning while the tree is just starting to develop is recommended. This causes the tree to allocate its nutrients to the remaining fruits, allowing them to develop considerably bigger in size. By doing these, a fruit plant may yield a comparable harvest the next year as well.
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3. Third Step is Keeping the Tree's Structure
After all of the diseased branch has been cut and opposing stems have been removed, the next task is to prune the plant to make it easier to clean and to pick fruits.
To prevent the branches from breaking due to the fruit mass, it is advisable to cut back the tree's outer branches so that it will grow less in length and thicker in size. This will result in easy-to-reach fruits and will boost fertility.
If buds are facing towards the center, branches will develop inside the tree, intersecting with other limbs and destroying its form. Trim the branches at a 45° angle slightly over an outward-facing bud so that the water drains off and far enough from the bud to save it from decaying. This will steer new growth away from the tree's trunk since it will develop in the direction of the bud’s point.
Do not cut too near to the bud because it will wilt and die. The ideal distance in cutting should be 6.5 mm above the bud to allow faster healing. Make sure that all branches receive the appropriate light. Pruning the higher part of the wood plant more heavily than the lower branches is a good idea. More sunlight may now reach the covered branches, allowing them to bear fruit.
Pruning activities are made easier and more successful with the right tools. There are three basic gardening tools that you can use. First is the hand clippers for cutting branches less than one inch in diameter. It is important that you know how to choose the best pruners and differentiate the types of hand shears that your plant needs. Next is loppers for trimming limbs up to 2 inches. Last is the pruning saw for cutting bigger branches. Knowing the proper tools to use is also important to avoid uneven cuts that can delay regeneration and weaken the plant's health.
PRUNING INSIDER TIPS:
Look for gardening tools that has the following features;
Non-stick titanium-coated high-carbon-steel blades.
Non-slip handles that are ergonomically constructed.
Can be easily disassembled for cleaning and sharpening with replacement parts readily available.
Includes a wire cutting notch and a sap groove for clean, debris-free cuts.
Has an adjustment system that ensures clean and precise cuts every use.
Prepare a mixture of bleach and water with a proportion of 1:9 respectively, denatured alcohol can also be used if bleach is not available. Then soak the blades of the garden tools for about a minute to clean them before proceeding on to cutting other trees. This will serve as a disease prevention technique to keep the plants healthy.
And don't forget to sweep up the trimmed woods after pruning to keep the plant hygienic and encourage bountiful crops.
Pruning is vital to keep your plants looking good, increase flowering and maintain healthy growth. Gardening activities are made easier and simpler with the use of proper equipment. These are all the necessary things for successful fruit tree gardening.
All of these features are available in the Haus & Garten pruning tool collection. They are built with the best-sourced materials, are designed for professional use, and are now accessible to avid gardeners who enjoy premium-quality tools that can handle any pruning task with ease. All gardeners will surely love the PRO Series Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears and Compound Action Bypass Loppers!
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