Pruning Pome Fruit Trees

The most common pruning practices are as follows:

• Heading back;
• Limb removal;
• Notching.

Pruning practices

Heading back:

• Heading back consists of cutting off a portion of the branch, above a bud or above a shoot. The purpose of this practice is to remove apical dominance, which stimulates the buds and shoots further back along the branch.

Limb removal:

Limb removal is the complete removal of the branch. This practice is useful when the aim is to:

• Renew branches;
• Remove diseased or dead wood;
• Correct the training of the tree.

Notching:

• Notches are localised cuts made above dormant buds, with the aim of stimulating them through the accumulation of water and nutrients (sap).

Types of cut

Bevel:

• Cuts should be made on a bevel, that is, at an angle of 45º, oriented towards the side where a new shoot is wanted.

Flush cut:

• Cuts should be made on a bevel, that is, at an angle of 45º, oriented towards the side where a new shoot is wanted.

Long cut:

• Long cuts, although not advisable in fruiting pruning, can be used when the aim is to obtain vegetative material for renewing wood. In response, the tree will put out several shoots for the grower to choose from.

Did you know about the different pruning practices?

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