Basic Guidelines for Maintenance and Renewal Pruning (Spur Bearing Apple and Pear Trees).
IMPORTANT : Prune apples and pears (pips) after leaf fall and before bud burst (Nov-Mar). Remove new water-shoots in Summer. Prune plums, cherries etc. (stones) after bud burst and before damp Autumn conditions arise (May-August).
- Maintenance.
- Look around the tree, taking note of its general structure and the space between the branches.
- Remove dead, diseased and damaged wood (DDD).
- Remove congesting shoots which grow inwards, crossing shoots which will rub and crowding shoots which are too close together, branches should be roughly 45cm apart (CCC).
- Look at each framework branch in turn.
- Remove vigorous upright watershoots, but leave some if there are a lot.
- Tip leaders by half or less depending on vigour and balance (the more vigour the less is cut).
- On strong laterals on outer part of tree renewal prune.
Renewal (1-2-3-4).
- Maiden laterals allowed to develop un-pruned.
- 2 year old laterals cut back to top flower bud.
- Three year old laterals will be fruitful and should be left.
- 4 year old laterals can be:
a) Removed completely in favour of dormant buds on the framework branches.
b) Cut back to 2-3 buds to give new vegetative growth from same place.
c) Left alone to fruit (if there is room).
This gives a rotation of four stages:-
1. Maidens un-pruned
2. 2 year old laterals
3. 3 year old laterals giving fruit for the first time
4. 4 year old laterals giving fruit on spurs or 4 year old laterals pruned,
(a) to 2-3 buds to start a new maiden lateral, or
(b) removed completely to allow space for a new maiden lateral.
The choice made will depend on space available and where new shoots are growing.
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