Pruning: The Importance of Pruning in Fruit Trees Management

Pruning is a practice of selectively removing certain parts of a plant, such as branches or bud so as to enhance the plants health and also improve the quality and quantity of fruits or flowers. In layman's language, pruning is like giving your plants a well-deserved trim to keep them healthy and looking good.

Why is it essential to prune your plants?

1.    It improves on the health of your plants.

Pruning helps remove dead or diseased branches, preventing the spread of diseases and promoting overall plant health.

2.    It improves air circulation and sunlight penetration on your plants

Pruning enhances airflow and light penetration, reducing the risk of fungal infections such as powdery mildew and botrytis and it also promotes better fruit development.

3.    It increases fruit production

By removing unwanted branches, pruning redirects the plant's energy towards healthy growth and fruit production. This stimulates new growth and enhances fruit yield and quality.

4.    It shapes and controls the size of your plants

Pruning allows you to shape your plants according to the desired aesthetic or functional purposes. By selectively removing the branches, you can maintain a compact size or train the plant to grow in a specific direction, such as along a trellis or fence.

Techniques of Pruning

·      Thinning-This technique involves selectively removing entire branches from the plant's canopy. It's useful for reducing crowding and allowing more light and air to penetrate through the plant.

·      Heading- Heading involves cutting back the tips of branches to encourage bushier growth. It's often used to control the height or width of the plant. It stimulates new shoots and can help shape the plant while encouraging denser foliage.

·      Pinching- A practise of using fingers to remove the tips of young shoots to control growth and shape.

·      Shearing-Trimming the outer edges of the plant for shaping. It is more common in ornamental pruning but sometimes applicable to fruit plants. It should be done carefully to avoid damaging the plant's structure.

·      Deadheading- A process of pruning by which old growth and seed heads are removed from the plant to promote new growth and re-flowering.

Frequency of pruning

How often you prune your trees depends on the type of fruit and its growth pattern.

Benefits of Pruning

v Enhanced fruit quality and yield.

Better quality fruit and increased yield due to improved light and air circulation

v Disease and Pest control

Reduces the risk of diseases and pests by removing infected parts and improving plant hygiene.

v Stronger plant structure

Pruning encourages a strong framework capable of supporting a heavy fruit load.

v Aesthetic appeal

Pruning enhances the visual appeal of plants by shaping them in to attractive forms and removing unsightly growth. Well-pruned plants have a tidy appearance.

Tips for successful pruning

ü  Use sharp and clean tools to make precise cuts and to avoid spreading diseases.

ü  Know the specific needs of your fruit plants, as different species may require different pruning techniques and timings.

ü  Prune at the right time- Timing is crucial when it comes to pruning. Most plants are pruned during their dormant season

ü  When pruning, prioritize the removal of dead, diseased, or damaged branches to improve plant health. Additionally, thin out overcrowded branches to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration within the plant canopy.

ü  Avoid over-pruning, which can stress the plant and reduce fruit production.