Pruning fruit trees is a preventive measure aimed at extending the yield period, stimulating bud formation, and improving the appearance of the tree. Errors in pruning a fruit tree contribute to a decrease in frost resistance, a decrease in the growing season, and plant death.
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Pruning principle
Given the beneficial effects of the procedures performed, plants experience stress. Thanks to pruning, metabolic processes are accelerated: sap flow, growth, awakening of dormant buds, the appearance of lateral shoots, strong lateral shoots.
Pruning is divided into 3 types: sanitary - improving the health of the growth, supporting - carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation, decorative - forming the desired shape. Any of the corrections is classified as autumn, spring, summer.
First of all, dry branches are removed, then damaged ones, and only after that the formation and improvement of the fruit tree is carried out.
Fruit tree pruning errors
Inexperience of gardeners leads to the following errors:
- Use of blunt instruments. Poor quality tools leave an uneven cut, burrs, which increases the percentage of decay.
- Removing only damaged shoots. This measure has an effect only if the layer is fresh, with old damage, fungi could penetrate into the formed crack. To eliminate the lesion focus, the cut is made on the growth ovary, the stump is cut with a fine file.
- Choosing the wrong cutting direction. To prevent the development of infections, the cuts should be directed from the trunk to the branches.
- Seizures on the bark. This is a gross defect that appears due to an incorrectly executed saw cut of a large branch. It is possible to avoid this error by first removing part of the lateral shoots, thereby reducing the total weight. Further, stepping back a little from the planned cut, perform the cut and only then remove the branch with an oblique cut.
- Neglecting crown thinning. The overgrown branches are intertwined, rubbing, which provokes damage to the bark and increases the risk of infection by pests and fungi.
- Incorrect pruning on the kidney. A cut is considered to be correctly executed if it is made at an angle of 30-45º. The hemp should not remain, this can provoke the drying of the branch.
- Removing only lateral shoots. When removing excess, it is recommended to leave no more than 3 main shoots.
- Saving competing branches. Because of this error, there is a struggle for survival, obtaining nutrients. The result is a weakening of the plant, a decrease in yield. Weak shoots should be removed, the shoots should be shortened, keeping the strongest branches that can withstand a bountiful harvest.
- Saving blind and non-flowering branches. Because of this, there is an excessive redistribution of tree sap and a further decrease in yield.
At the end of summer, the affected areas on the tree must be cut out. Such parts cannot be saved for the winter.
Sanitary agrotechnical measures must be carried out regularly every year at the same time.
Do you know the rules for pruning fruit trees?
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See also the following article about pruning fruit trees:We cut off tall branches in trees: without a stepladder and crawling through trees, it is more convenient and safer