How to prune apricot trees
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Apricot trees have weak germination and branching abilities. The buds at the base of branches often fail to germinate and form latent buds, which can live for 20-30 years. The crown is relatively sparse, and most varieties of apricot trees have weak apical dominance and weak stem characteristics, resulting in an inconspicuous trunk and a round crown shape in natural growth. The buds of apricot trees have the characteristic of early maturation. Under good ecological conditions, they can branch 2-3 times within a year. This characteristic can be used to form and bear fruit early. The branches of apricot trees grow especially vigorously in their young stage, and their growth momentum gradually weakens with the increase of tree age.
Apricot trees allowed to grow naturally often have a round crown shape. Under cultivation conditions, based on the weak stem and strong sunlight-loving characteristics of apricot trees, a multi-trunk natural open heart shape is better. The height of the trunk varies depending on the variety and growth momentum, usually 40-60 centimeters. Varieties with weak tree vigor and an open posture can be slightly higher, but generally not more than 50-80 centimeters. It is advisable to retain 5-6 main branches, with a base angle of 50-60 degrees and a waist angle increased to over 70 degrees. On each main branch, a lateral branch is left every 30-60 centimeters, with a total of 2-3 lateral branches. On the lateral branches, fruiting branch groups of varying sizes and orientations can be directly cultivated, and the growth of main and lateral branches should be balanced with moderate density.
I. Young Tree Stage
Young trees grow vigorously, pruning should be light, and more small branches should be retained to accelerate shaping and increase fruiting. For the extension branches of main branches and strong developing branches, keep them short at 40-60 centimeters, about 1/3 or 2/5 of the original length, which can produce 2-3 long branches after cutting. For dense branches and suckering branches, thinning should be carried out, and the remaining branches should be relaxed. Apricot varieties with high germination ability and weak branching ability have few long branches. To increase the utilization rate of long branches, do not remove the buds inside and outside when pruning, and the buds below the cut can be removed.
II. Initial Fruiting Stage
For trees that start to bear fruit, the shortening of extension branches can be slightly heavier. As apricot trees have a weak branching ability, the crown will not be too dense, so a pruning method combining shortening, reducing, and thinning is adopted. Newly formed leafy branches, flower bundle fruiting branches, short fruiting branches, and medium fruiting branches do not need to be pruned, while long fruiting branches can be cut to 15-30 centimeters based on their growth momentum. To prevent large crowns from becoming bare, developing branches can be cut short or branches can be reduced on the sides of main and lateral branches to cultivate permanent branch groups. Developing branches are usually cut short by about 20 centimeters at the lower full bud position, and the remaining long branches are cut short at the full bud position, with weak branches left to fruit.
For apricot varieties, the long branches below the extension branches and medium-long branches with full terminal buds can be left uncut to allow the formation of short fruiting branches and串花枝 for fruiting.串花枝 have a balanced growth momentum and bear fruit outward every year, which is the main fruiting position of apricot varieties. According to surveys, 76.8% of the fruits of a six-year-old窝蜂 variety pruned by the long release method are on串花枝, so apricot varieties often use the release method to cultivate fruiting branch groups. However, in spacious areas, strong one-year-old branches can also be cut heavily to promote 2-3 branches before releasing to increase the number of串花枝.
For the pruning of fruiting branch groups, the medium and short fruiting branches in the fruiting branch groups of apricot trees should be relaxed and few cut, while developing branches should be thinned less and cut more, combining cutting and thinning. Weak fruiting branches should be updated to avoid decay and branch bareness. Overdense medium and short branches can be thinned according to the principle of "removing the weak and retaining the strong."
Apricot trees generally bloom easily and prefer strong conditions. Wounds during the growing period can severely affect their growth, so there is usually no need for summer pruning measures to promote flower bud formation.
III. Full Fruiting Stage
In the full fruiting stage, the tree vigor of apricot trees weakens, and the extension branches and other branches should be cut more and relaxed less. Since the wounds of apricot trees are not easily healed, when cutting the extension branches of the main branches, a residual stump of 1-2 centimeters should be left on the bud above the cut to avoid affecting the germination and branching of the first bud below the cut. Fruit branches with fruiting ability can be reduced to the branching point, and non-fruiting flower buds can be thinned from the base. Suckering branches that occur in the full fruiting stage should be preserved and used as much as possible, usually cut short to promote branching and cultivate branch groups to supplement and increase fruiting positions.
For apricot varieties,串花枝 that have been fruiting continuously for 5-6 years can be reduced from the latent bud position at the base to promote branching and re-cultivate串花枝 for fruiting. At the same time, withered medium and short branches should be thinned to form fruiting branch groups mainly composed of串花枝. After updating串花枝, it is best to have a full tree reduction.
IV. Aging Stage
In the aging stage, apricot trees should be pruned to update the main branches on the basis of strengthening fertilizer and water management to re-cultivate the crown and promote the recovery of tree vigor, extending the fruiting period. Trees that are left unpruned have dense branches, a hollow interior, and the fruiting position moves outward, resulting in very low yield. For such trees, dense and large branches should be gradually thinned, weak supporting branches reduced, and strong branches retained to quickly restore tree vigor. Dead branches, weak branches, dense branches, and diseased and insect-infested branches should be thinned in a timely manner to increase sunlight and improve yield.
The above introduction on how to prune apricot trees and the techniques for caring for apricot trees correctly are provided for netizens to refer to and learn from.