Limbs drooping near the ground or growing toward the center of the tree are removed, as at “B”. This diagram shows a peach tree with corrective pruning cuts, which are needed beginning after the second growing season and continuing through the fourth year. Completely remove any large, vertical limbs growing on the primary scaffolds, leaving only the moderately vigorous wood for fruiting.Head back the primary scaffolds by one-half and.Head the chosen side limbs, or sub-scaffold branches, back by one-half.They should be 18 to 24 inches from the main trunk.They should be spaced 6 to 8 inches apart along the branch.From each scaffold branch, select two to three limbs that developed during the previous summer. ![]() Second springĭuring the second spring after planting, you can begin to develop secondary or sub-scaffold branches on the primary scaffolds. Have developed on the inside of the main scaffolds. Remove any broken or diseased branches and cut out any vigorous upright shoots that may Your goal is to develop a vase-shaped tree with no branches in the center. Prune your trees from budswell through petal fall in the spring. If pruned in late winter, the tree cannot protect the pruning wounds from infection by this disease. ![]() Stone fruit trees are also very susceptible to a disease called Cytospora canker. During the summer, pinch off any shoots that begin to grow toward the center of the tree.Cut the tree off just above the topmost selected branch and.Remove all branches that are less than 18 inches above the soil line.Cut these scaffold branches back by one-half to a healthy outside-facing bud.Choose branches that are growing at a 60° to 90° angle from the trunk.Select three or four scaffold branches, beginning at 18 inches, one at each compass point.Otherwise, your tree will grow major branches too high above the ground.įor trees with healthy branches 18 inches above the soil line: At plantingĪ whip or tree with no branches 20 to 30 inches above the soil line should be cut back to 26 to 30 inches after planting. Spurs (compressed twigs) on plum, sweet cherries, and apricots can bear fruit for more than one year. Apricot and plum can be grown with either a central leader or open center. Note: Sweet cherry is usually pruned to a central leader system. Because stone fruit trees bear fruit on 2nd-year wood, the open-center pruning system also keeps the fruit-bearing surface close to the ground, accessible for pruning and harvest.Open-center trees allow optimum air circulation and light penetration into the tree’s center, both important factors in reducing the development of brown rot on fruit and.The pruning system best suited to stone-fruit trees is called “open center.” Pruning and training the trees to this system produces a vase-shaped tree. Unwanted branches should be removed or cut back early to avoid the necessity of large cuts in later years. Like all fruit trees, stone-fruit trees should be pruned to develop a strong, well-balanced framework of scaffold branches.
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