What are the key points to note in shaping and pruning peach trees

1. The general shaping principle is “shaped but not rigid, unshaped but not chaotic” and “large branches bright and open, small branches bustling”; fewer large branches allow more small branches. The general pruning principle is “prefer light over heavy”, combining heavy and light. “Small branches bustling” does not mean the more branches the better; generally after pruning the branch spacing is 10-15 cm, and the branch volume of pollenless varieties should be 50-100% more than that of varieties with pollen. Through pruning, keep the tree vigor moderate, neither too vigorous nor too weak.

2. Management of different varieties. The shaping techniques for different varieties are basically the same, but the pruning techniques for the fruiting branches of different varieties differ.

3. Pay attention to opening the light path. Emphasize the role of light in increasing peach yield and quality, so that all branches, leaves and fruits receive light evenly.

4. Strengthen summer pruning, play down winter pruning. It is acceptable for peach trees to undergo only summer pruning and no winter pruning, but the reverse is not acceptable. Winter pruning is not omnipotent; it must be combined with other technical measures to achieve its due effect, such as summer pruning, flower and fruit thinning, etc.

5. Avoid “flat-top style” pruning. After pruning, on the same tree there should be long, medium and short fruiting branches, so as to achieve the goal of branches of uneven length, positions of uneven height, and three-dimensional fruiting.

6. Main branches extend in a curved manner, large fruiting branch groups or side branches grow obliquely, and small and medium branch groups fill the gaps. The distribution of fruiting branch groups on the main branches (side branches) is “jujube-pit shaped”, that is, “small at both ends, large in the middle”. Fruiting branches are best when oblique or horizontal; on young trees, branches on the underside can be kept, while thick vigorous branches on the upper side must be removed.