Dormant Pruning for Fruit Trees & Why You Should Be Doing It
If you own fruit trees, then you know the importance of pruning them. Pruning is an essential part of maintaining fruit trees, but do you know about dormant pruning? Your last month to do dormant pruning is in March!
What is Dormant Pruning?
Dormant pruning is the process of pruning fruit trees while they remain in their winter asleep (dormant) state. By pruning trees during this time, it saves the tree from growing branches it doesn’t need, or that will just be removed later. This means that the tree can focus its energy on growing useful branches and on producing fruit. Dormant pruning can happen anytime from late winter until bud break. It’s particularly important to dormant prune pome fruit trees (apples, pears, and quince) before the buds swell and break open. As soon as buds open, the tree is putting resources into leafing, flowering, and setting fruit.
Benefits of Dormant Pruning
Dormant pruning has several benefits for fruit trees. First, it saves trees from growing branches they don’t need. This means that the tree can focus its energy elsewhere. Second, dormant pruning helps manage the size of the tree. By removing unnecessary branches, you can prevent the tree from growing too large and becoming difficult to maintain. Last, dormant pruning can help to prevent disease and pests. By removing dead or diseased branches, you can prevent the spread of disease and reduce the risk of pests. Dormant pruning is an excellent time to do structural pruning to establish and maintain the overall structure (or scaffold) of each tree.
How to Dormant Prune Fruit Trees
When dormant pruning fruit trees, it’s essential to use the correct tools and techniques. You should use sharp, clean pruning shears and make clean cuts at a slight angle. Remove any dead or diseased branches, as well as any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other. If you’re unsure how to prune your fruit trees, it’s best to consult a professional aka your friends at Hillside Nursery!
If you have fruit tree pruning questions call Hillside Nursery at (406) 586-5171