IN THE ORCHARD
How to prune fruit trees
Get out your secateurs and lopping shears... now! s the time to clean up and shape your fruit trees for best summer yields
The purpose of pruning of branches on fruit trees is to create a strong structure that can withstand wind without breaking, carry heavy crops of fruit that can be harvested easily, while letting in sunlight to the heart of the tree, to encourage even ripening. Most fruit trees are best
Pruning kit: Small chainsaw or pruning hand-saw, secateurs and lopping shears
pruned in late winter to early spring ~ in other words, on the Highveld, in late August. This is because: ❑ You want to prune the branches before sap starts to flow. ❑ The cut areas are less susceptible to insect infestation in the early spring. ❑ Without leaves and blossoms, you can see easily see the shape of the tree. ❑ The direction of the tree ' s future growth needs to be set before starting its growth spurt. Four different tools come in handy when pruning fruit trees: ❑ A hand or chainsaw is used to cut the big branches that should have been pruned a few years ago. ❑ A foldable small pruning saw for branches too big for
the lopping shears but too small to bother with the chainsaw. ❑ A set of long-handle lopping shears to cut branches that are bigger than your little finger. ❑ A pair of secateurs to trim all the small stuff. They are easy to handle and can get
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into tight areas. There are some general principles, and a set procedure, in pruning fruit trees: ❑ Inspect the tree for dead, diseased and damaged branches and remove them as well as any rotten dried out fruits remaining. ❑ Also remove any branches that are weak, cross each other( or are likely to cross each other next season), grow downward or have narrow crotches. ❑ Clip away any suckers growing from the lower portionofthetrunkorup from the roots. These are the little shoots that spring up from the roots of the plant. ❑ Make all the cuts flush with the main branch without damaging the bark. ❑ When pruning fruit trees, keep walking around the tree and look at the tree from different perspectives. The tree should look balanced from every angle. ❑ Viewed horizontally, the angle created by the limbs should resemble the hands of a clock at 10 o ' clock or at 2 o ' clock. ❑ Always prune back to buds aimed in the direction in which you want the limb to
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