PRUNING TECHNIQUES

Pruning is both an art and a science. Essentially pruning ‘trains’ a tree into a desired shape for three basic reasons:-

Ornamental – the artistic look of the tree
Functional – allowing access to light or airflow
Increase in fruit production

In general the principles are as follows regardless of the specific reason for pruning:-

• Remove dead, dying or damaged branches
  
• Clear branches that are blocking air flow or access to light
• The pattern of pruning should complement the natural structure of the tree (e.g. start with a trunk leading to 5 branches, separating into 10 smaller branches etc, noting many trees have quite specific patterns as a result of their fruiting habit)
• Know on what ‘year wood’ the age of the branches (e.g. last years or this years growth) the fruit of your particular plant forms inorder to maximise fruit development.
• Pruning should be completed at the right time of the year according to the flowering, fruiting, vegetative growth pattern, deciduous or evergreen nature of your plant.
• Finally do not prune more than required as this will retard plant growth and fruit development as it sends the energy into the vegetative growth rather than into the strength giving roots.
  

espalier

Espalier is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame, frequently in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis