How to prune a peach tree? Master the correct peach tree pruning method
1. Trunk height: For a generally shaped tree, the trunk height is 30-50 cm; the specific height should be determined according to the variety, terrain, planting density, management method and the growth of the individual tree. For varieties with strong growth vigor, fertile soil and a wide branch spreading angle, the trunk can be set somewhat higher. If the trunk is set too low, cultivation is difficult, ventilation is poor and fruit quality is poor; if the trunk is set too high, the tree body is unstable, growth is weak, and management in the tree and harvesting are also inconvenient. In addition, on mountainous and sloping land, the trunk height and the height between the main branches should be determined in combination with the terrain and topography.
2. Selection and balancing of main branches: The number and orientation of the main branches to be retained should be determined according to planting density, training method, etc. If too many are retained, although early yield is high, the branches will later become crowded and light will be insufficient, causing the lower parts of the main branches to become bare; if too few are retained, the pruning amount is large, the space cannot be used promptly and fully, and early yield is low.
The trunk height can affect the height of the main branch arrangement positions; if the main branches are positioned high, their growth vigor is weak, and if low, their growth vigor is strong. Generally, the main branches in the upper part of the training zone tend to be weaker. If 3 adjacent buds (that is, 3 branches connected together, with a very small training zone) are selected to cultivate 3 main branches, the problem of unbalanced growth vigor will not occur, but the 3 main branches are at the same point, so the structure is not firm and splitting may occur during the full fruiting period. To overcome this shortcoming, a combination of adjacent and close arrangement can be used (that is, there is a relatively large distance between the main branches), namely the upper two main branches are adjacent and are close to the lower main branch, so that the main branch structure is firm and nutrient transport is smooth. If the lower two main branches are adjacent and the upper main branch is relatively high, the phenomenon of “choking” is likely to occur, that is, strong lower growth and weak upper growth.
If imbalance between main branches is encountered, it is necessary to suppress the strong and support the weak, “prune strong branches heavily, prune weak branches lightly”. For strong branches, bend them to increase the angle, ease their growth vigor, and appropriately increase the pruning amount; the extension head of the main branch can also be changed so that it rises in a curved manner; weak branches should have their angle raised, be appropriately left long, and increase the amount of branches and leaves so that they receive more nutrients and change from weak to strong; in this way, after 1-2 years they can tend toward balance.
In addition, when selecting scaffold branches, be careful not to use clamped-crotch branches, and when selecting main branches try not to retain south-facing branches, as south-facing branches block more light.
3. Prune according to the tree, shape according to the branches: For training and pruning, it is also necessary to grasp the principle of pruning according to the tree and shaping according to the branches, so as to achieve both ventilation and light transmission and full use of space, with both a firm framework and early yield, realizing both shaping and fruiting. Do not rigidly copy the tree shape and shape for the sake of shaping, so when shaping there should be both light and heavy pruning, appropriately pruning lightly and leaving branches long, changing the past view of “first grow the tree, then bear fruit”, and achieving the goal of growing the tree while bearing fruit.
4. Pruning methods: These are treatments of branches such as renewal pruning, heading back, light pruning and leaving unpruned.