Grow Your Own Magazine

We were going to get someone in to deal with our myriad of trees (fruit and non-fruit) this year (so we could watch them and do it ourselves next year)

Unfortunately our money situation is such that the money set aside for "trees" will have to go towards a new garage (see thread).

I've got 2 plum trees, a pear tree and 2 apple trees n our little orchard.

They have been planted too close to one another really, but are very well established and great fruiters.

Can I do a little light pruning myself, as some of the branches are interlocking, and there are small branches near the bottom of the trunk that should have been taken off a long time ago.

Is this the right time of year for pruning, or should I wait until it warms up a bit?

Thanks

OWG

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The method of pruning to employ depends heavily on the training system that you wish to use. The most common training systems are Standard, half standard, bush or pyramid.

I wouldn't prune plums at this time of year due to the risk of silver leaf infection which affects all the stone fruits including cherry. Paint all cuts with Arbrex or similar. I would wait until June or July to prune removing dead broken or diseased wood before chopping back to the training system you choose.

Apples and pears may be pruned in winter.

Hope this helps.

Hi OWG,

IC's right about the plums - wait till around June time when they are growing well. The only time I would advise this is if you want to drastically reduce it as it may finish it off if you did it in the height of summer.

The Apples & Pears you could do nowwhat you wnat is fruiting spurs so reduce the new growth to 2 or 3 buds.

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ntg

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