The low head is greatly preferred by many commercial growers since it makes pruning, spraying and harvesting relatively easy and permits the growth of as large or nearly as large crops on a given area. This is true whether the tree is headed at two to three feet or even higher. A strong tree with a good framework, usually of three to five branches, is preferable. The shape of the fruiting tree is determined in large measure by early pruning.

This system may well be followed through several seasons, doing the heading back in June and most of the thinning in winter.Ĭlipping back in early summer forces the growth in desirable new laterals rather than permitting it to produce excessively long tips which must be cut back the following spring. It may even be desirable in the case of a tree with a few unusually vigorous branches to pinch these back for the time being, thus equalizing the growth.

The most feasible solution in case the terminal growth is twenty to thirty inches long would be summer pruning in the middle of June or early July, cutting back to where new laterals are desired. Heavy winter pruning simply aggravates the difficulty. A vigorous, almost excessive growth is unfavorable to the development of fruit buds and it is sometimes necessary to check the growth of young trees in order to induce fruiting. The time when fruiting commences is determined in considerable measure by the treatment of the tree during this period. The next four to seven years is a transition period from the growth of main limbs to the development of fruiting wood. The first four years of the newly planted apple tree are utilized largely in shaping the tree and the proper development of the larger branches which are to bear the crop. These objectives are somewhat different from those desired in shade and ornamental trees and the pruning of the fruit tree should be modified accordingly.

Large crops of high quality are requisites and pruning of both young and old trees should be done with this in mind.Ī really satisfactory fruit tree must be strong enough to withstand all but the most severe storms, stocky enough to carry a load of fruit, even a heavy load, and open enough to permit the production of perfect or nearly perfect, usually well colored fruit. The prime object of growing fruit trees on a commercial scale is the production of fruit.

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