Pruning Fruit Trees
Pruning keeps fruit trees healthy, productive and a manageable size. It can feel daunting, but the basic principles are simple, and a tree responds far better to thoughtful pruning than to being left to its own devices.
The key in New Zealand is getting the timing right, because pipfruit and stonefruit are pruned at different times of year. Prune the right tree in the right season and you avoid disease and reward yourself with better fruit.
When to prune what
Apples and pears, the pipfruit, are pruned in winter while they are bare and dormant. Around July is ideal, once the worst of the cold has passed but before the buds swell in spring. In frost-prone areas, hold off until late winter so soft new growth is not nipped by frost.
Stonefruit are different. Apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums should not be pruned in winter, because the cuts can let in silver leaf disease, which they are prone to. Prune these in late summer after harvest, or early autumn, when the disease risk is lower.
- Apples and pears: prune in winter, around July, while dormant
- Stonefruit: prune in late summer after fruiting, never in winter
- Citrus: tidy up after frosts have passed in cold areas
- In frost-prone spots, delay winter pruning to avoid frosted new growth
How to make good cuts
Start by taking out the three Ds: dead, damaged and diseased wood. Then remove branches that cross or rub, and any growing back into the centre of the tree. The aim is an open framework that lets light and air through to the fruit.
Use clean, sharp tools and cut just above an outward-facing bud or back to a main branch. Do not leave long stubs. If you prune stonefruit in autumn, paint the larger cuts with a pruning paint to seal them against disease.
Shaping for fruit and size
Pruning controls a tree's size and shape, which matters in a small Kiwi backyard. Keeping a tree open and at a height you can reach makes picking, netting and spraying far easier than wrestling with a giant.
Do not be tempted to hack a tree hard all in one go, as that triggers a mass of vigorous, fruitless watershoots. Prune a bit each year to build and maintain a good shape, and the tree rewards you with steady, accessible crops.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I prune my fruit trees?
Prune apples and pears in winter, around July, while dormant. Prune stonefruit like apricots, peaches, plums and nectarines in late summer after harvest, never in winter, to avoid silver leaf disease.
Why shouldn't I prune stonefruit in winter?
Stonefruit are prone to silver leaf disease, and winter cuts are far more likely to let the spores in. Pruning in late summer or early autumn, when conditions are drier, greatly lowers the risk.
How much can I cut off a fruit tree?
Take it steady. Remove dead, damaged, crossing and inward-growing branches, but avoid hacking a tree hard in one go, which triggers a flush of vigorous, fruitless growth. Prune a little each year to keep a good shape.