words by George Hempel @The Tree Surgeon Professionals
Optimal Timing for Pruning Deciduous Trees
The optimal time to prune a deciduous tree, except for stone fruit trees, is during winter. During this period, the tree is essentially anesthetised or "asleep." To prepare for a pruning session in winter, it’s important to ensure that the tree is as healthy and happy as possible during late summer and autumn. This means making sure the tree is well-watered and possibly treated with Seasol if it has experienced dry conditions.
Pruning is quite exhausting for a tree. When it is pruned, the tree "wakes up" and has to put out new branches and leaves to recover. Therefore, it's essential to keep the lower branches during pruning so the tree has a base to grow from when it becomes active again.
It's crucial not to prune both the top and the bottom of a tree in the same year, as this can be too stressful and may result in the tree's death. Some trees can cope with this, but many cannot.
For stone fruit trees, particularly those of the Prunus variety, the general consensus is to prune them in spring when they are active enough to produce kino and protect their wounds. However, pruning in spring or early summer means you will be cutting off the buds and new growth intended for the following year.
When pruning fruit trees, such as Malus (apples) or Pyrus (pears), it’s important to note that any pruning done this year will result in the loss of fruit and flowers for the next year. Evergreen citrus trees are more forgiving, but any pruning will still require the tree to take time to recover.
Pruning is a confronting experience for the tree. It needs to be healthy and in good condition before it can begin to flower and fruit again. Initially, the tree will put out more leaves to maximise sunlight exposure and reclaim its space. Once it feels stable and “happy,” it will then focus on flowering and producing fruit.
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