What season is the best for pruning fruit trees? When is the most suitable season for pruning fruit trees?

Best Season for Pruning Fruit Trees

A brief knowledge sharing article introducing the best season for pruning fruit trees for green plant maintenance tips, details are as follows:

Best Season for Pruning Fruit Trees

Fruit tree pruning is divided into growth period pruning and autumn pruning, usually with winter pruning as the main and growth period pruning as the supplement. Winter pruning is generally done in November and December before the ground freezes, primarily to cultivate main branches and fruiting branch groups, promote the growth and formation of some branches' flower buds, and improve the tree's lighting conditions. Growth period pruning is mainly aimed at increasing fruit setting rate and fruit quality.

Best Months for Pruning Fruit Trees

Fruit trees can be pruned during both the dormant period and the growing period, with winter pruning as the main and growth period pruning as the supplement. Different periods of pruning have different tasks and also play different roles in the growth of fruit trees.

Dormant Period Pruning

Dormant period pruning, or winter pruning, is carried out from after the normal defoliation in autumn to before the next year's bud break. At this time, the stored nutrients of the fruit trees have been transported from the branches and leaves to the trunk and roots and stored.

Pruning at this time results in less nutrient loss. Moreover, without leaves, it is easier to analyze the structure of the tree and the pruning response. Therefore, winter pruning is the main pruning period for most fruit trees.

However, there are exceptions, such as walnut trees, which can cause bleeding if pruned during the dormant period and must be pruned before the autumn defoliation or after spring bud break and before flowering. Grapes also have a bleeding period before bud break, and pruning should be done after this period.

Winter Pruning Functions

Winter pruning aims to complete the main shaping and pruning tasks of fruit trees, such as cultivating main branches, balancing tree vigor, and adjusting subordinate relationships. This helps to cultivate fruiting branch groups, control supporting branches, and promote the growth or formation of flower buds on some branches.

Additionally, winter pruning is used to control the number of branches, adjust the ratio of growth branches to fruiting branches, and the amount of flower buds. It also controls the size and density of the tree canopy, improving the lighting conditions inside the canopy.

Growth Period Pruning

Growth period pruning of fruit trees is carried out in spring, summer, and autumn. Spring pruning, which takes place after spring bud break and before flowering, is divided into pre-flowering pruning and late pruning.

Pre-flowering pruning is a review and supplement to the tasks of winter pruning, mainly aimed at further adjusting the growth vigor and the amount of flowers. For example, when apple flower buds are not easily identified, more "flower buds" can be intentionally left during winter pruning.

Re-pruning is done from when flower buds start to open until before flowering, thinning out excessive flower buds and reducing long branch groups. This helps control the amount of flowers, increase fruit setting rate, and cultivate fruiting branch groups.

Late pruning refers to shortening the branches after germination in varieties with low germination rates and poor branching ability, removing the parts that have already germinated. This "late pruning" measure can increase germination rates, increase the number of branches, and weaken apical dominance, a commonly used technique for young trees to bear fruit early.

Summer Pruning Tasks

Summer is a period of vigorous growth for fruit trees and a good time to control excessive growth. Many fruit trees use summer pruning to control branch vigor and reduce nutrient consumption.

After pruning, it helps to calm the tree's vigor, form flower buds, and increase fruit setting rate. It also improves the lighting conditions inside the canopy and enhances fruit quality.

Common measures include propping branches to open angles, pinching off and thinning branches, bending branches, and ring girdling. This period is an essential technical measure for young grape, peach, and apple trees.

Autumn Pruning Tasks

Pruning over-vigorous trees before autumn defoliation can control tree vigor and excessive branch growth. At this time, thinning large branches and reducing pruning stimulate the local area less. This is often used for species and varieties that are sensitive to pruning.

Removing the unripe or poorly lignified parts of new shoots in autumn can make fruit trees enter the dormant period earlier, which is beneficial for young trees to survive winter.

This article shares the full content of the best season for pruning fruit trees, and green plant enthusiasts may refer to this for reference.