The Latest Apricot Tree Pruning Techniques: A Step-by-Step Guide

Pruning apricot trees is an important part of the apricot production process. Reasonable pruning plays an extremely important role in shaping the tree and increasing the yield of the fruit tree. Apricot tree pruning is generally divided into pruning during the young tree stage, pruning during the full fruiting stage, and winter pruning. Let's take a look together with the editor below at the detailed introduction.

I. Pruning During the Young Tree Stage

1. Shaping the tree

During the young tree stage of the apricot tree, when the trunk grows to 40-50 cm, it is enough to keep 3 main branches at the base, and then keep 4-6 secondary main branches on each main branch. After that, there is no need to prune branches. Maintain this tree shape; excess branches and side branches can be pruned off.

2. Cutting branches short

When shaping the apricot tree, the extension branches of the main and side branches need to be cut short. The degree of cutting back depends on the strength of the branch: stronger branches should be lightly pruned, while weaker branches should be heavily pruned. The cut-back length should be one-third or two-fifths of the branch.

II. Pruning During the Full Fruiting Stage

1. Cutting back to promote fruiting

When the apricot tree is bearing fruit, some nutrient branches and extension branches need to be properly pruned. They need to be cut back to encourage new branches to sprout and lay the foundation for high yield. Cutting back must be done at the right time. If the cut-back is too light, although more branches will grow, the branches that grow will be relatively weak, causing the fruit tree to lose balance and shortening the years of full fruiting.

2. Pinching back vigorous shoots

During the growth of the apricot tree, some branches grow too vigorously. If they are not controlled, they will consume too many nutrients, which is not conducive to fruit enlargement. If a vigorous shoot is useful, it can be pinched back and cultivated into a fruiting branch; if it is useless, then simply cut it off.

III. Winter Pruning

Winter pruning first requires thinning. Branches that grow too densely at the base should be pruned in time. Overly dense branches and crossing branches in the middle and upper part of the canopy should also be pruned. Thinning can improve the tree's ventilation and light penetration, which helps promote the overall growth of the tree. In addition, cut back the branches of one-year-old and perennial main branches. Apart from keeping a few important main branches, the rest can all be pruned off. Branches and leaves can promote later branch growth and help control the tree shape so that the tree can grow better in the future.

  The above is an introduction to apricot tree pruning techniques. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.