The Art And Science Of Pruning, Lesson 2

Step 1: Recap pruning lesson #1

In our last lesson, we took a look at this fruit tree and realized that two of the branches needed to come out. One is too horizontal and one is too vertical. They didn't meet our criteria of 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. So we will just cut those out and the tree will have much more light, much more air and the existing branches will be a lot healthier. And we have our angles of 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.

Step 2: Directing the growth:

There is one minor problem near the top. This branch starts out at the right angle but then goes horizontal. What we can do is direct growth by a proper pruning cut. We will take off the horizontal extension of this branch and direct the growth at more of a proper angle.

Step 3: Cut exactly and properly

It is extremely important when making a cut to cut exactly at the proper place. Each branch as it meets the trunk creates an area, a swollen area, a collar if you will that needs to be saved. This is where the healing tissue originates. The sap in the tree comes up through to here. So your pruning cut needs to be on the outside of that branch collar. That is extremely important. If it is further out it will leave a stub and that won't heal. If it is too close to the trunk it won't heal either.

Step 4: Increasing growth:

Some orchardists now are modifying the central leader system slightly. They will cut out the center of the tree when it gets to be 8 or 10 feet tall. And then this tree will develop 2 or 3 leaders at the very top and increase fruit bearing area near the top of the mature tree which will be about 12 to 15 feet.

Thanks for watching the video and stay tuned for the next lesson.