What to Do
Episode: # 12 30/06/07
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Adelaide it a great place to grow a huge range of fruit trees. We love the picking and eating but what about pruning? Kim has a few tips to get you trimming the right parts this winter.
All fruit trees grow differently knowing where the fruit develops is critical in working out how the tree should be pruned.
Apples, pears and some plums fruit on short stems known as spurs that are 2 or more years old. So when you are pruning these trees, you need to cut back lots of the fresh growth first and leave more of the older or mature wood.
Apricots, peaches and nectarines on the other hand, fruit mainly on the new growth. This is easy to identify as it is usually a different colour to the rest of the plant. Here it is best to take out the older wood first then shorten the new growth.
If you need to get to the top of the tree, then long handled loppers or telescopic cutters are great for pruning those hard to get to spots.
When pruning apricots, aim to remove branches with old spurs and keep the fresh looking, better bearing wood. Prune to leave the centre of the tree open to allow light and air to penetrate and force new growth.
Now apricots are prone to a fungal disease called gummosis, so where large cuts are made, immediately apply a fungicide to the cut surface to reduce the risk of disease getting in.
It is important to cut back peaches and nectarines; otherwise they tend to become overgrown and very spindly. Don’t be afraid, it will promote a better fruiting and growing plant in summer.
Knowing what type of plum you have will help work out how it should be pruned. European varieties like Green Gage require very little pruning and only need a light tidy up in winter.
Japanese Plums like Satsuma fruit on one year old wood and fruiting spurs and can be pruned the same as an apricot.
Pruning reduces the problem of over cropping. A branch that carried too much fruit over the recent season can break and will need to be removed, which is a real shame as it will leave the tree badly shaped.
Now, don’t be shy, have a go at pruning your fruit trees this winter, you know you will be amazed at the results!
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Adelaide it a great place to grow a huge range of fruit trees. We love the picking and eating but what about pruning? Kim has a few tips to get you trimming the right parts this winter.
All fruit trees grow differently knowing where the fruit develops is critical in working out how the tree should be pruned.
Apples, pears and some plums fruit on short stems known as spurs that are 2 or more years old. So when you are pruning these trees, you need to cut back lots of the fresh growth first and leave more of the older or mature wood.
Apricots, peaches and nectarines on the other hand, fruit mainly on the new growth. This is easy to identify as it is usually a different colour to the rest of the plant. Here it is best to take out the older wood first then shorten the new growth.
If you need to get to the top of the tree, then long handled loppers or telescopic cutters are great for pruning those hard to get to spots.
When pruning apricots, aim to remove branches with old spurs and keep the fresh looking, better bearing wood. Prune to leave the centre of the tree open to allow light and air to penetrate and force new growth.
Now apricots are prone to a fungal disease called gummosis, so where large cuts are made, immediately apply a fungicide to the cut surface to reduce the risk of disease getting in.
It is important to cut back peaches and nectarines; otherwise they tend to become overgrown and very spindly. Don’t be afraid, it will promote a better fruiting and growing plant in summer.
Knowing what type of plum you have will help work out how it should be pruned. European varieties like Green Gage require very little pruning and only need a light tidy up in winter.
Japanese Plums like Satsuma fruit on one year old wood and fruiting spurs and can be pruned the same as an apricot.
Pruning reduces the problem of over cropping. A branch that carried too much fruit over the recent season can break and will need to be removed, which is a real shame as it will leave the tree badly shaped.
Now, don’t be shy, have a go at pruning your fruit trees this winter, you know you will be amazed at the results!
AS SEEN ON 
