The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: kaz on September 10, 2008, 07:29:40 pm

Title: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: kaz on September 10, 2008, 07:29:40 pm

My son planted some apple,pear,cherry and a solitary plum tree several years ago.
He has now moved with his job and I'm left to try to sort these trees out.
When is the best time to prune and how, or even can someone suggest a good book with diagrams.

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: Rosemary on September 11, 2008, 07:47:11 am

Try Dr Hessayon's "The Fruit Expert".

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: kaz on September 11, 2008, 04:06:05 pm

Thanks Rosemary.
You always seem to know where to look for things.

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: Castle Farm on December 09, 2008, 06:37:53 pm

Type tree pruning into youtube.

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: kaz on December 09, 2008, 07:22:11 pm

Thanks I'll do that. I need to have some guidence on this or I'll end up killing them.

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: garden cottage on December 09, 2008, 09:43:45 pm

our ryeland sheep have done ours,every single branch

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: IvanKinsman on August 14, 2009, 06:45:01 pm

I would buy The Royal Horticultural Society book 'Growing Fruit' by Harry Baker - excellent and easy to understand diagrams.

Basically, the principle is to make them look like an upside down candleabra - keep the centre of the tree free of branches. Also, cut back the top shoot of the tree by about a third during the winter.

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: doganjo on August 14, 2009, 08:33:50 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on September 11, 2008, 07:47:11 am

Try Dr Hessayon's "The Fruit Expert".

KAz, I have a copy of this if you want it?

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: Bodger on August 26, 2009, 03:40:32 pm

I've several books on pruning that I would be delighted to lend to you.

I'm crap at following instructions and they are of little use to me. My current strategy, revolves around trying to attract an expert to come and do the job in return for being wined and dined by the seaside. :)

Title: Re: Pruning fruit trees
Post by: kaz on August 27, 2009, 07:41:54 am

Thanks everyone. Was given a book on fruit trees last Christmas and successfully pruned the trees earlier in the year.

Had a bumper crop of fruit this year except for cherries, the birds had them first.