Winter pruning
In general, fruit trees should be cut back when there is no vegetation, as this is when cut wounds heal better - and because of the lack of foliage, the person doing the work can better see where exactly the shears should be applied. This can reduce the likelihood of cutting errors. However, fruit trees react very differently to a cut - pome and berry fruit tolerate pruning in winter much better than stone fruit, which is why the latter is better pruned in summer, if possible after harvest.
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Summer cut
With a summer pruning, you remove young shoots that you would cut away in winter anyway. An early pruning improves the exposure of the fruit tree crown and also ensures that the tree has more free energy for the development of flower buds. In addition, vigorous fruit trees, including sweet cherries, for example, can be restricted in their growth by a summer pruning. Thus, the summer pruning has a positive influence on the fertility of the tree.
The right time for the summer cut
However, the right time is also important here: If summer shoots are removed too early, for example, the top bud will sprout again, whereby the growth in length is already somewhat limited. Nevertheless, such a shoot cannot mature in time before winter and would therefore have to be cut back again. Furthermore, the period in which leaf and wood buds can be converted into flower buds through targeted pruning is very limited. The following table gives you an overview of the possible cutting times.
| Type of fruit | The best time for the summer cut |
|---|---|
| Apple | first half of July to second half of August |
| pear | Beginning of July to beginning of August |
| sweet cherry | End of June to the second half of July |
| sour cherry | Late June to late July |
| plum | first half of July to first half of August |
| apricot | first half of July to the end of July |
The best cutting times for different types of fruit
Depending on the time of year pruning is carried out, this has an influence on the vigor of the fruit tree in question. Fruit trees cut in summer are generally limited in growth, while that of species cut in winter is fueled. In this way, shoot growth can be regulated.
| month | Type of fruit | Influence on growth |
|---|---|---|
| January | Apple pear | strong promotion of vigor |
| February | Apple pear | strong promotion of vigor |
| March | Apple, pear, sweet cherry, sour cherry, plum, apricot | Promotion of vigor |
| April | peach | Reduced vigor |
| May | peach | Reduced vigor |
| June | - | - |
| July | sweet cherry | Reduced vigor |
| August | Sweet and sour cherries, peaches, apricots | Reduced vigor |
| September | Sour cherry, plum | Reduction in vigor |
| October | - | - |
| November | Apple pear | strong promotion of vigor |
| December | Apple pear | strong promotion of vigor |
Tips
In contrast to many other deciduous trees, fruit trees require training and then maintenance pruning during the first few years. This promotes the development of fruit wood and keeps the crown light.
