Proper pruning of fruit trees in the garden

Pruning trees is the key to success and a must-have procedure that every experienced gardener knows about. Any fruit tree requires constant and careful care. Only in this case it will give a rich harvest.

Why do pruning fruit trees?

Fruit trees such as apple, pear, and stone fruit need pruning. They are very demanding for pruning. Why prune fruit trees?

Pruning gardeners solve several problems at once:

1. Growth and fruiting.
2. Reducing the size of the crown.
3. A phytosanitary task is the creation of conditions unfavorable for pests and diseases.

If there is little light in the crown, the branches inside the crown do not bear fruit and die over time. Fruits are formed only on those branches of the tree where the light falls.

and if the tree was pruned rarely or not at all , then the fruits will be located on hard-to-reach branches, located, as a rule, high.

Thanks to the pruning procedure, the crown of the tree is formed correctly by the .Which leads to the growth of side branches and allows you to get more fruits on the available branches.

Thanks to the pruning procedure, the crown of a tree is formed correctly, resulting in a rich harvest

When and which trees in the garden can be pruned

Pruning fruit trees in a certain season depends on the following factors:

• what the gardener wants to achieve with this procedure;
• in what climatic conditions is the garden located;
• on the type of tree.

At what time of year is it better to cut: in spring, summer, winter or autumn?

In the central and northern regions of Russia, is not recommended to do the autumn pruning of the , because of the severe frosts, the wounds in the trees will not have time to heal.

This also happens because the movement of sap in the tree slows down, as it goes into a state of rest. As a result, the tree can get sick and die.

In addition, it is important for to start pruning from old trees, since buds swell on them faster than on young trees, pruning is recommended to be done strictly until the buds swell.

Pruning fruit trees in spring:

In the southern regions of the country, pruning can be done in the winter period .This is due to the fact that in the south the frosts are not as strong as in the north.

Winter pruning, above all, is carried out in order to rejuvenate old trees and create the right crown for young seedlings.

Also, winter pruning is often carried out to reduce the fruiting of young trees. It is believed that the tree, which gives rich harvests for 2-3 years in a row, should be allowed to rest.

In addition, the thin branches of a young tree may break due to the high yield. Therefore, it is important in winter to cut off extra branches. In winter, gardeners prune first pome fruits, and then stone fruits.

Some gardeners believe that summer is the best time for pruning .But in this case we are talking about trees from 3 years and older. They argue that pruning in the summer months leads to rapid growth of new shoots.

In addition, if you do pruning while loading fruits, the quality of the fruits improves markedly.

Another advantage of summer pruning is the juice extracted by the tree. It covers the wound, which leads to rapid healing, and also acts as a defense against pests.

Most experienced gardeners believe that pruning is best done when the tree is resting. Therefore, prefer early spring.

Summer pruning is best done for trees that are 3 years old and older

From what age fruit trees should be pruned

You can start this procedure with annual shoots to form the crown .

If a tree has already reached the age of 10-15 years old , it is considered old. Such a tree reduces the number of increments and yield. He needs a rejuvenating pruning.

To do this, cut branches into 3-7-year-old wood. Thus, reduce the crown. But by next year, the young shoots will thicken it. It is important to ensure that the number of cuts on one side of the branch does not exceed three.

How plants do, and how - do not

The pruning procedure is required for almost all fruit trees. So how exactly it leads to an increase in yield, allows you to accelerate the growth of the tree, and also protects its numerous pests and diseases.

is recommended to start pruning in early spring with pome fruit trees - apples and pears .Since these trees are frost resistant.

Pruning cherries, plums, apricots, cherries, plums is possible only when leaves appear on the trees. If this is done while the tree is resting, pruning can cause trees to become infected with fungi and diseases.

In the summer, you can remove dried branches, also shorten new shoots and remove branches that interfere with the crown.

. Features of the

procedure. Pruning trees is important to do carefully and follow the basic rules in order not to harm.

Timing

First of all, you need to decide on the appropriate cutting season. It will depend on the type and age of fruit trees, as well as on the location of the garden and climate features.

Preparation of Gardening Tools

A large role in the result of pruning will be played by the availability of all the tools necessary to carry out this procedure.

In order to avoid an increase in the diameter of the damaged tree space, should use only sharp tools for cutting.

For cutting, you need sharp stainless tools: a hacksaw, pruner

. It is recommended to have the following items and tools on hand:

• garden hacksaw;
• pruner;
• air pruner - secateurs on a long rod, for cutting branches at the top;
• staircase;
• glasses;
• garden var or paint on linseed - the means necessary for processing the cut point.

You can not do cutting with a rusty tool .Otherwise, the tree can get sick and perish as a result.

Scheme and Technology Before proceeding to the cropping itself, the needs to determine what it is needed for and make an action plan.

The following are the main goals that gardeners achieve using this procedure:

• to form the correct tree crown;
• strengthen thin young shoots;
• remove intersecting branches, discharge the crown to penetrate sunlight into it;
• remove diseased branches, giving the opportunity to grow healthy;
• increase in the number of fruit-bearing branches;
• prepare the tree for the winter period.

Once the goal is defined, it is important to learn the trimming techniques. There are several known technicians, among which are the most popular three s:

1. . Slice into the kidney .This technique helps to set the correct direction of growth of the branch. It is necessary to find a branch with a good gain. Cutting plastic secateurs must be turned to the left part of the branch. The cut is made at a small angle of 5 mm.in front of the kidney. The new branch will grow in the direction where the kidney is looking.
2. Slice on the ring .This technique is used when it is necessary to remove a full branch, which grows inside the crown, interferes with other branches and creates density. The scheme is this: in the place where the branches are connected, it is necessary to make a cut exactly along the outer ring.
3. Cut to the side branch .This technique allows you to change the direction of growth from one shoot to another. Invalid branches are cut, and the side take on the function of the main branches.

Popular cutting techniques: cut to the kidney, cut to the ring and cut to the side branch

Good care after

If the diameter of the cut is more than 1 cm, the wound should be treated without fail. To do this, you need to buy or prepare your own garden pitch and treat them to a wound in a tree.

Young fruit trees should be pruned only with the purpose of forming the correct crown. Otherwise, pruning may lead to deterioration of the fruiting properties.

People who take care of their trees and prune correctly and on time always receive gratitude in the form of a good harvest.

If a person first decided to do this procedure , it is very important to follow the recommendations of knowledgeable gardeners, since this process only at first glance seems simple.

But in fact, carelessness and ignorance can lead to the death of the plant.