The Good Gardener by Simon Akeroyd

The Good Gardener by Simon Akeroyd

Author:Simon Akeroyd
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781909881662
Publisher: Pavilion Books
Published: 2015-04-01T16:00:00+00:00


Apple trees respond well to pruning and will produce more fruit as a result.

Pruning fruit trees

Apple and pear trees are fantastically versatile and can be trained into all types of different shapes, although the most common are cordons, espaliers and step-overs. They are pruned twice in the year, first in late summer when they have finished growing. This is to allow the sunlight into the canopy at a critical time, because the plant is preparing either to produce fruit buds for next year or instead create vegetative (or non-fruiting) growth. Pruning now promotes fruit for next year. This method is called the Modified Lorette System. The second prune is in winter, when the tree is dormant.

The pruning for espaliers, step-overs and cordons is practically the same for each. In summer the new growth is pruned back to one or two buds past the base of the shoot. If you look carefully you should be able to recognise where the new growth begins and last year’s growth ends. The older wood will be darker and thicker and there will be a swelling where the new growth begins. Work systematically along the plant. Anything shorter than the length of a pair of secateurs can be left. In winter, the shortened stems can be thinned out. This is a harder prune, cutting into the older wood. Thin out congested clusters of spurs and remove any shoots growing from underneath the main branches as these will be shaded and are therefore unlikely to be productive.

Most apple and pear trees are grown as open-centre trees, shaped a bit like a goblet, although centre-leader or spindle trees are also popular. The principle behind pruning any freestanding fruit tree is to ensure that as much as possible of the tree is bathed in sunlight, because this will maximise the crop.

The main time for pruning a freestanding tree is during winter; it is easier to see the branches without the leaves and the tree does not bleed sap. However, modern gardeners sometimes prune apple trees in spring and summer, as the bleeding sap does no harm to the tree and pruning at this time of year can slow down the growth of an over-vigorous tree.



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