Believe it or not, winter is the perfect time to prune fruit trees. According to certified arborist Michael Farmer, who resides in Sacramento, Calif., pruning fruit trees in the early Spring allows wounds to heal, and also allows you to see the buds to avoid.

Fruit tree pruning is beneficial in that it promotes fruit tree health, disease management, and better fruit yield. In addition, fruit tree pruning helps control the size and shape of your tree.

There are three types of fruit tree pruning, and each is conducted according to the type of tree in question.

The Central-Leader System
Apple, pear and sweet cherry trees rely on a “central leader”, or a main stem or trunk of the tree from which other lateral branches develop. These trees are pruned by thinning the lateral branches.

The Open-Center System
Peach, plum, nectarine, apricot and sour cherry trees rely on this system, as there is no dominant, vertical trunk (central leader). For these trees, pruning is based around three or four main limbs set at wide angles with about five lesser branches on each.

The Modified-Leader System
Nut, apple and pear trees can be pruned using this method, which is based upon giving the central leader and three or four lateral branches equal importance.

For specific instructions on fruit tree pruning, click here. http://www.lawn-and-gardening-tips.com/fruit-tree-pruning-instructions.html

For a more detailed description of fruit tree pruning, click here. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag29.html

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