Technique and timing of spring pruning of fruit trees

Principles of Correct Pruning

In order to carry out competent pruning of trees and shrubs in the spring, you should adhere to some rules. You will have to remove shoots that will not be useful in the future. In many fruit trees, the main crop ripens on overgrown branches. If the crown is too thickened, unproductive and old branches are removed. Shoots growing downward are also removed during spring pruning.

Cutting methods on the diagram

Since they have the least amount of light, and they are considered hopeless. In the spring, it is also necessary to do pruning of branches that have managed to grow up. Although the degree of their productivity is lower than that of those located horizontally, they are productive. Harvesting from such branches is more difficult. When pruning trees and shrubs, you should remove young shoots that are an obstacle to the growth and development of the rest. At the end of the pruning, the cut site is greased with garden varnish. To remove small and large branches in spring, it is recommended to use a sharp pruner.

For thicker branches, a file or a lopper is suitable, and for very large branches, a hand or chainsaw is suitable. The formation of fruit trees and shrubs is carried out at a time when the air temperature is stable at more than -4 degrees. After pruning diseased branches or shoots in the spring, do not forget to disinfect the tool with alcohol. Spring formation of the crown of trees is carried out before the beginning of the period of sap flow. After the pruning procedure, you need to control that the branches grow in a horizontal position.

How to process fruit trees

Pruning fruit trees in spring depends on the species. Unnecessary branches are removed from apple trees so that the main trunk remains intact, in relation to which the remaining branches will grow at an obtuse angle. In the process of culture development, the upper part can change direction under the weight of the crop, give a shade or press down the side shoots with weight. If this happens, the main trunk will have to be cut upwards. In this way, the illumination of the crown is achieved, and new shoots will begin to grow vertically from the main trunk. Plum is similar in shape to shrubs, since it does not have a main trunk.

When pruning, such trees form a cupped crown. The central conductor is removed, and old branches and shoots are cut out annually in the spring, if they are located close to each other. It is necessary to shorten branches that are too long and hang down to the ground. Cherry formation is different from other fruit trees. Its buds are located at the ends of the branches, so they cannot be shortened. If you cut off the tip, the branch will dry out. The branches of the cherry are cut out completely for the purpose of thinning. Peach and apricot grow intensively; pruning young fruit trees is advised carefully. In these tall crops, the apex is removed. It is also necessary to remove the branches that are located low.

Video "Pruning an apple tree in spring"

Berry bushes

Shrubs that are pruned in spring are treated in the same way. The exception is grapes.Old-aged branches are removed, since young shoots will give a greater amount of yield. Branches infected with dangerous diseases and attacked by pests are removed under the main trunk. The branches remaining after the work are thinned out. Berry crops are cultivated to form a bush with branches of different ages that will not interfere with each other's normal growth.

For example, consider the scheme for the formation of a bush of a popular garden culture - black currant. A year after the first pruning of a young plant, a couple of basal shoots may grow from the roots. They are also called zero, new shoots appear on them every year. For a seedling 2 - 3 years old, no more than 4 zero branches should be left. To stimulate the appearance of a large number of branches at the basal shoots, the tops are also cut off. In weakly branching bushes, it is permissible to remove shoots up to half of the entire length. Within 4 - 5 years, the same procedure is carried out to remove zero branches and shorten them. Both sick and weak branches are removed.

By the 5th year of the life of the bush, there will be 2 - 4 root shoots on it from each year, and the process of crown formation will be considered complete. Old bushes must be thinned out in order to remove unproductive branches.

They are easy to find - they have a brown tint, they grow no more than 10 cm annually, in places of fruiting they look dry and dying. Gooseberry pruning is done in the same way as currants. Here it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of growth - the formation of zero shoots is more intensive. With the proper care of gooseberry bushes, you will have to remove hanging branches more often than currants.

They are cut at the root or strongly cut to the side shoots. Trimming raspberries is also necessary, given some cultural features. After planting, the shoots are completely cut to ground level. This allows the formation of viable shoots, which is the key to a good harvest in the coming season. When the bushes bear fruit, all the fruiting shoots are removed at the root and annuals are thinned out. The density during thinning is 12 - 15 first-year shoots per running meter. The distance is left at 25 cm. Viable shoots with sufficient height are cut into 3 - 5 buds.

Useful Tips

When carrying out work to remove branches from trees and shrubs, one should keep within the generally accepted deadlines - it is impossible to perform manipulations with the beginning of the sap flow period. At this time, the wounds received by cultures in the process of crown formation with the help of sharp instruments will be healed hard and for a long time. The processing times for different types of horticultural crops are different, which allows you to easily manipulate each tree on the site.

The procedures should be carried out at a temperature close to 0 degrees. At the end of the work, do not forget to treat the cut site with garden varnish, a mixture of yellow clay with cow dung, or paint. Berry bushes, in which buds are formed on one-year-old shoots, cannot be cut off at this time of the year. Processing is recommended taking into account the age of the tree and its size.

Video "Pruning Fruit Trees"

How to properly prune trees so that they give a good harvest? Do not know? Then don't miss out on the next tutorial outlined in the video below.