Fruit Tree Pruning in the Flathead
When, how and how much to prune apple, apricot, plum, pear and cherry in northwest Montana.
For a mountainous area, the Flathead Valley provides a surprisingly mild growing environment for a variety of fruit trees. Some local homeowners have even had success cultivating peaches at 48 degrees north! Aside from the delicious and free produce they provide, fruit trees are excellent low-growing choices for height-limited landscapes. They attract honeybees and often put on a great flower show in the spring.
Fruit tree pruning in the Flathead must happen regularly to maintain tree structure, health and yield. Below we describe the Three T’s of pruning: timing, tools and technique. Follow these guidelines to improve and maintain the fruit trees in your landscape.
Timing – When should they be pruned?
For optimal growth and yield, fruit trees are best pruned when dormant (ideally in late winter or early spring), before bud break. Pruning during dormancy makes infestation by diseases and pests less likely.
Tools – What tools do I need to prune efficiently and effectively?
The ideal tools for pruning fruit trees include an orchard ladder, loppers, a hand saw and hand snips. Pole saws and pole clips are also great to have. To minimize the chance of spreading fire blight, spray your tools with Lysol and wipe them down between trees.
Technique – How is it done?
There is more nuance to fruit tree pruning than we can cover here, but here are the fundamentals:
- Remove the dead limbs from the tree. When cutting, use the right tool so as not to tear the soft bark tissue. Clippers are for small cuts, saws for large. The cut should be clean and flat, and NOT flush with the stalk. Leave a small stub!
- Establish the lowest branches by cutting to elevate the canopy. Look for junctions in the limbs where they naturally fork, and remove the larger of the two. Prune so you can at least move around the base of the tree without getting down all fours.
- Grab your ladder and bring the height of the tree down to a reasonable level. Prune out the upright shoots (suckers) and reduce limbs that are growing way out of reach for picking. Again, be sure to make cuts where the tree naturally forks. Step back occasionally and see what the tree looks like while you prune. Patience and a keen eye are keys to great pruning.