Good afternoon, my reader. Pruning is an important activity for fruit trees, especially stone fruit trees. It allows you to rid plants of dry and diseased branches, rejuvenate old trees, and improve fruiting. There are several guidelines on how to properly carry out this procedure.
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Time spending
In the fall, before the onset of cold weather, sanitary pruning is carried out. It is necessary to rid cherries and cherries from thin, damaged shoots. This increases the immunity of plants to diseases, resistance to low temperatures.
In the spring, after the autumn pruning, a strong growth of new shoots is observed. The thinned crown is better ventilated, the branches have enough light. More flower buds appear, and fruiting improves.
The time for autumn pruning is chosen depending on the region:
- in the south - the second half of November;
- in the middle - mid-October;
- in the north - early September.
The main landmark is the complete fall of the foliage. At this time, sap flow slows down, and the plants tolerate the procedure more easily.
One-year-old cherry and cherry seedlings, as well as young, not fully matured plants, are not cut in autumn. Pruning is postponed until spring or even summer.
Pruning carried out in dry, cloudy weather will help reduce the risk of infection of fruit trees. It is important to carry it out before the onset of frost. Otherwise, they are postponed until spring.
Instrument preparation
Prepare the tool before trimming.
You will need:
- secateurs;
- knife;
- lopper or garden saw.
Tools must be sharp and disinfected. They are treated with potassium permanganate, alcohol or 5% iron sulfate.
All cuts are covered with garden varnish or special putty:
- "BlagoSad";
- "Rannet".
The procedure is necessary to prevent infection or moisture from entering the wounds. Which can cause disease and further death of the tree.
Pruning rules
For sanitary pruning of branches, the "pruning by bud" method is used. The cut is made strictly at an angle of 45 o, tilting it towards the inner side of the crown. This will help reduce the risk of putrefactive bacteria entering the wound, prevent unnecessary thickening of the branches.
In the autumn, tree cherries carry out not only sanitary pruning, but also shaping. For this, some of the shoots are removed, which take nutrients from the tree.
Trimble:
- Dry, broken branches showing signs of disease or damage from pests.
- Shoots thickening the crown.
- Branches growing inward.
- Hanging to the ground.
- Root growth.
- Young shoots on the trunk and forks.
- Intersecting.
The top of the fruit trees is shortened by 65 cm, leaving a central shoot 3 m high.
Young plants begin to be cut only 3 years after planting. Provided that every year the shoots add at least 70 cm in length.
For 1 season, no more than 1/3 of the total volume is removed. If the tree needs more global pruning, the procedure is divided into several stages.
Pruning bush cherries
Shrub cherry gives a strong growth over the summer. Therefore, in the autumn period, it needs high-quality sanitary pruning.
Remove dry, diseased, damaged branches. And also young shoots that grow from the main trunk.
They do this:
- remove branches, retreating 45 cm from the top;
- cut off shoots growing inside the crown;
- leave fruiting branches.
Follow-up care
After the procedure, the sections are covered with garden pitch. So they will heal faster, and the plant will restore strength before the winter cold.
The cut branches are burned. They are not suitable for use in compost as they may contain mushroom mycelium.
After pruning, the soil is carefully dug up and loosened. This increases oxygen access to the root system. Then, up to 115 liters of water are added to the trunk circle for one cherry or sweet cherry.
As a preventive measure, the soil is treated with a solution of urea or insecticides. The measure will protect fruit trees from pests and diseases.
Correct pruning will help not only preserve the aesthetic shape of the tree, but also significantly increase the yield. Increase resistance to low temperatures, diseases and pests.
Do you know how to properly prune stone fruit trees?
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