Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, explains the benefits of summer pruning fruit trees.
Summer pruning of fruit trees promotes fruit production, whereas winter pruning promotes the growth of more foliage and is more likely to allow introduction of disease.
Deciduous trees reverse their sap flow during autumn. They draw sap and nutrients from their leaves back down into the branches, trunk and roots of the plant. Pruning a tree when this sap flow is reversed can “suck” pathogens such as bacteria and fungi into the tree’s vascular system. This is definitely something you want to avoid because it increases the likelihood of disease.
As soon as you see colour change on tree leaves, you know that the reversal of sap flow has already begun. At this point it’s too late to prune. You are better waiting until the tree breaks dormancy in spring. That way, the wounds will quickly heal and your tree should remain healthy.
This advice is especially important for apricot and cherry trees. They’re very susceptible to diseases introduced via pruning cuts. Prune these trees only when they are actively growing. Avoid pruning apricots and cherries from the point of leaf colour change in autumn until bud-burst in spring.
Find out more in my guide to pruning different fruit trees.
Happy pruning!
Duncan
🍑 For more gardening tips see my latest planting guide and garden update.