5 tips for summer pruning deciduous fruit trees (beyond a clean, sharp blade):
- Avoid removing fruiting spurs and any branches with flowers or fruit.
- Summer pruning inhibits growth allowing you to limit the size of the tree to allow for reasonable netting and harvesting; it also allows the tree to direct its energy into growing and ripening fruit, rather than branches and foliage.
- Removing excessive upward growth helps control the height and maintain good branch structure. (Focus on new growth; Structural pruning and pruning of older, larger branches should still be done in winter, with the exception of apricots & cherries).
- Apricots and cherries don’t like to be pruned during winter dormancy when they can be susceptible to gummosis. Autumn is just around the corner, so make time to do it before leaf-fall.
- Espaliered fruit trees make a statement, but they’re not low maintenance. Regular trims help keep them looking neat.
