Pruning fruit trees: Encyclopedia II - Pruning fruit trees - Formative pruning of bush trees

Pruning fruit trees - Formative pruning of bush trees

Formative pruning of apple (Malus domesticata) and pear (Pyrus communis) trees (the ‘pome’ fruits- the ‘stone’ fruits such as cherries, plums, gages, etc have different requirements and should not be pruned during the dormant months) should be carried out during the dormant winter months between November and March during the early years of the tree’s life in order to develop a strong framework capable of bearing the weight of the crops that will be borne in later years. This involves hard pruning, although in later years pruning will be lighter and carried out in order to encourage fruiting.

The maiden tree

A maiden whip (that is, a one year old tree with no side shoots) should be pruned to a bud with two buds below it at about 30” from the ground immediately after planting in order to produce primary branches during the first growing season. A feathered maiden (that is, a one year old tree with several side branches) should have it’s main stem pruned back to three or four strong shoots at 30” from the ground. Side shoots should be shortened by two thirds of their length to an upward or outward facing bud. Lower shoots should be removed flush with the stem.

The two year old tree

Remove any lower shoots and prune between three and five of the best placed shoots by half to an upwards or outwards facing bud in order to form what will become the tree's main structural branches. Remove any inwards facing shoots.

The three year old tree

Prune the leading shoots of branches selected to extend the framework by half to a bud facing in the desired direction. Select four good laterals to fill the framework and shorten these by a half. Prune any remaining laterals to four buds to form fruiting spurs.

The four year old tree

The tree will have begun to fruit and only limited formative pruning is now required. Shorten leaders by one third and prune laterals not required to extend the framework to four buds.

From year five onwards the tree is considered to be established and should be annually pruned as described in the following section.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Formative pruning of bush trees", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki