To Prune or not to Prune

Shane from Tikipunga

When to prune: summer vs winter

Fruit trees can be pruned both in summer and winter. Winter pruning is generally best done in July through August, and should be done before the buds begin to swell too much.

Summer pruning happens after the tree has finished fruiting (so depending on the variety this may actually be early autumn), and there are a few advantages over winter pruning.

Less chance of disease or infection

Reduces the vigour of any regrowth

It's easier to find a nice day (Auckland's winter isn't best known for sunny, dry days).

However, winter pruning is definitely easier to do. The bare branches make it easier to see what's happening. And as long as you're careful and choose a good day, disease and infections aren't that likely.

In general, I'd recommend pruning in winter for structure, and in summer to help control the size and to trim out any damages, dead or diseased branches. Pruning in summer is also generally recommended for stonefruit (peaches, plums and apricots). However, even with stonefruit I'd still try and get the initial shape right immediately after planting as this tends to help the plant grow in the right shape from the get go.

What you'll need:

Secateurs
Loppers
Pruning Saw
Pruning Paste/Paint

Methylated Spirits- Avoid spreading diseases by sterilising blades with meths between each cut. I put mine in a little sprayer to make it easier to apply.

Other useful items:

Pole Tree Pruner (allows you to prune high up branches without a ladder)

A sturdy A-frame ladder (If you do need a ladder, be careful as it can be dangerous).

Sharp penknife or Stanley Knife.

Note: All these tools should be sharp to ensure that your cuts are nice and neat. If they aren't and you need help sharpening you can drop your tools in to your nearest Kings Plant Barn and make use of our sharpening service.





Tips for getting started

Prune on a dry day - if the trees are wet this increases your chance of spreading disease.

Know what shape you are aiming for when pruning. Generally speaking, prune and train plum and peach trees into an open-vase shape, and apples and pears into a central leader. Though there are a few other options, including modified central leaders, espaliers, and cordons that are better in some situations..

Get the shape right early. If you get the shape right early you'll make it much easier for your future self.

With the possible exception of the first year, where pruning hard can help establish a good shape, it's generally best to avoid pruning back by more than a 1/3.

More information on: www.kings.co.nz...