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Caring For Your Trees
While ornamental trees are pruned for shape and density, fruit trees are pruned to maximize sunlight exposure. Structurally, the limbs must support heavy fruit with little breakage. Strong, properly spaced branches are the key to a good shape.
Keep fruit tree pruning to a minimum the first two or three years to allow a strong root system to develop.
Branches should be evenly spaced both vertically and around the trunk. The ideal arrangement is like a spiral staircase with no two branches coming out of the trunk
at the same level or distance above the ground. Branches should be eight to 12 inches apart. Establish this arrangement early in the tree's life.
When the tree is mature, its height can be stopped by pruning any unwanted growth just above a side branch. This branch will take over as the upright growing leader, but it can be headed back similarly in future years to keep fruit trees' height as low as possible.
Limbs that jut out at a 65- to 90-degree angle are strongest. If the angle is 45 degrees or less, the crotch may break under heavy fruit. If three or more branches develop in a cluster, the fork will be very weak.
On older trees, cut out all dead, diseased or broken wood. Next, cut out weak crotches. If you have a choice, leave limbs on the windward side. Next, remove limbs that cross over, rub, grow toward the center of the tree, and any strong, vertical shoots from the trunk.
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