Fruit trees need continuous care if they’re going to remain productive. So many people have fruit trees on their property that have grown out of control. These people usually don’t understand the amazing tonnage a few fruit trees can actually provide. Many people think that pruning is cosmetic, but when it comes to fruit trees, proper pruning is essential for the best yield and now is prime time to prune.
The first step is to gain some control of the tree using these techniques. If the tree is severely overgrown, you don’t want to prune everything all at once, it should be a process that lasts for two or three years. Some people like to use the rule of thirds, by pruning 1/3 each year.
To get the tree to produce the best fruit yield, remove suckers (branches that form from the roots or trunk of your tree), branches that grow down as opposed to those that grow upward; however, horizontal branches are most desired because they hold the fruit in the most pristine nature. Remove any branches that are crowded within the interior of the tree or if they are crossing and overlapping. These tips may also help, but you want to open the tree for sunlight and air penetration.
Speaking of trees, it’s time to think about which trees you will need to plant this spring. Click here to learn how to grow your trees faster, healthier, and produce acorns or fruit at an earlier age.
This tip is courtesy of the GameKeepers Field Notes, a weekly wildlife and land management email newsletter produced by the Mossy Oak GameKeepers.
A GameKeeper by definition is someone who truly loves AND lives the land, the critters and nature…not just during hunting season but all the time. A GameKeeper wants to be outdoors every day and work the dirt while living their personal “obsession”.
Find out more about what makes a GameKeeper by visiting our website.
