Good things come to those who wait, and this is especially true when establishing young fruit trees. Pruning to encourage proper branching structure and the production of high-quality fruit requires a great deal of patience, proper cultural care, and a keen eye for detail.
Even if the idea of pruning fruit trees feels intimidating, I encourage you to do a bit of research and try your hand at it. The first two to five years of a newly planted fruit tree’s life are especially crucial for developing the structure that will ensure long-term success. You will be sacrificing fruit set the first few years, but your tree will more than make up for this in the decades to come if a strong structure is developed from day 1. Here are some tips for getting your young fruit trees off to a great start.
A fruit tree trained around a central leader, also called a main leader, develops a shape that is a more open and refined version of the tree’s natural habit. One dominant, upright branch is maintained at the center of the plant, and several equally spaced scaffold branches grow out at an angle from this central trunk. The open branching that results allows for even light distribution throughout the plant and encourages the development of healthy, high-quality fruit. Apples, pears, and cherries are well suited for this pruning system.
Peaches, plums, and nectarines thrive when trained as open center trees. To employ this method, allow the central leader to grow to approximately 30 inches tall and perform a heading cut. By removing the growing tip of the main leader, you will encourage dormant buds along the stem to break dormancy, and several new shoots will emerge. Choose four to five new branches that are equally spaced as your new
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