Nelson
March
Q.
When and how do I prune my miniature fruit trees, apricot is in a real mess. We have just bought the property and need to learn fast what to do.
Margaret Jenks
A.
Hi Margaret, your apricot tree is best pruned in autumn, early winter or early spring before it begins to produce new growth.
Remove any unhealthy branches and thin out any bushy areas in the leaves. For easier access to the fruit, apricots are usually grown as open centre vase style trees. Aim to develop a framework of well-spaced branches that are capable of bearing fruit without breaking. For your other fruit trees, check out our Fruit Tree Pruning Guide.
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When and how do I prune my apricot tree? Comments
Hi Tui, we have two 3 year old apricot trees just starting to bare fruit with massive leaf growth about 3m high and 3-4 m wide, when do I prune them to shape? Thanks.
Ced Stone
Hi Ced, the best time to prune apricot trees is in summer after fruiting has finished to reduce the chance of disease affecting the tree. Shorten limbs by about a third, you want to aim for an open vase (V) shape so that light can get in and ripen fruit. Shorten weak shoots by a third, remove branches that criss-cross through the centre, dead wood, remove vigorous growth and reduce water shoots (vigorous shoots that grow straight up). Fruit forms on spurs from the previous seasons growth which is wood that is 2-3 years old. The fruiting spurs fruit for 3-4 years. Paint all wounds with a pruning paste or water based paint. The Tui Team.