If you have any questions about the basics of pruning your fruit trees then please let me know. If there is something specific you would like to get more info on please also let me know so I can try get a detailed video made up for you 🌱
I've just found you so I'm doing a catch up. I'm looking at tree pruning as I've just bought an orange tree which was a mess. I live in Greece so your videos are perfect for me re climate. I've alway shied away from fruit trees as I didn't have a clue how to prune them - now I do! You're a life saver. Many thanks.
Oh wow, yaaaaaay, I'm so happy to hear how this video has helped you better understand fruit tree pruning and I'm about to tackle some massive and old fruit trees that have gone wild so stick around to watch those in the coming months 🌻
Hey Simone, thanks so much for the comment. I would advise to not do any hard pruning in spring. Spring is used for shhot selection and you can do some tip pruning, but hard cuts will really hurt the tree. Here is a video I did around spring growth and pruning on citrus, but the same principles apy to other trees so watch this to get an idea of what pruning is best in spring 🌱 ruclips.net/video/qnAcB2n9k3o/видео.html
Could you explain how to prune to ensure straight growth? So on your diagram it would be explaining how you got that very first line sprouting from the ground to be perfect straight. Basically the straight foundation before the outward growths. Thank you!
This is a great question and thanks for taking the time to leave your comment! To get a taller tree you can either remove side branches (not ideal) or regularly tip prune them and all the new growth they get. You then do not tip prune your central leader so you can redirect the growth to the leader without sacrificing the side branches. Once you have reached your desired height the opposite would apply in that you would regularly tip prune the top branches and let the bottom or side ones grow freely. This is a great way to channel growth to the area of the tree your need it 🌻
Hello Sir, do we need to prune the tall going trees as well...? (the ones we plant around the fence); or is it like they generally don't go here and there but straight and we allow them to grow own their own just like that naturally...?
Really good question! For me, personally, I only apply these pruning techniques to trees that produce fruit. Most non-edible trees will naturally grow the way they are meant to, but for fruit we want to maximised light, airflow and production as much as possible, which is why these techniques are so useful 🌻
I have 16 mangoe trees. 8 are about 8m to 10m high. The trunks are on average 40 to 50 CM across. I am going to cut them down in size. I'm stuck between cutting the trunk off a metre high and starting again. Is this possible? Or should I just cut the branches close to the ground. The other 8 are thinner at the trunk. Have less branches so look like they can be cut back to about 1m long measuring from the trunk out. Any advise please.
Wow, I can only imagine the yumminess that comes out of your orchard... I am definitely envious! Luckily mangos can handle severe pruning but that would not be my choice as you will lose fruit production for a while. Personally I would go for the 1/3 rule where every pruning season you cut back 1/3 of the total tree size. It will take anything up to 4 years to reach your desired height but you keep the tree very healthy and you can maintain fruit production. Alternatively I would opt for your 2nd option and prune back to foundational branches and start from there. A trunk chop on a tree that size is going to set you back big time. I hope this helps a bit... 🌻
Thanks for the video. Would these pruning principles apply all fruit trees such as citrus as well? A request on pruning existing trees that are already established but have been neglected and getting them back in shape. What is that black paint on the cut area? Is it necessary to paint all cuts?
Great questions, Sascha, thank you! I am really looking forward to doing a more advanced pruning video on Citrus, but in the meantime, here are some answers for you. Would these pruning principles apply all fruit trees such as citrus as well? Yes, I would. Citrus actually gives us a lot of flexibility with pruning. We can prune with an open centre (vase-shape) central leader, modified central leader, bush, etc. The growing cycle of citrus is to firstly push out vertical growth and then secondly push out horizontal growth off that new vertical growth. Just remember the weight of fruit cause branches to drop so plan your pruning and branches so you don't have shading out on the bottom branches. What is that black paint on the cut area? Is it necessary to paint all cuts? That is a putty sealant that I use on my fig trees. Not so much the others. Figs have very soft and almost hollow centres, so I usually just seal up figs to avoid any possible rot from getting in. Pruning at an angle for water runoff should be enough, but I know how finicky figs can be.
If you have any questions about the basics of pruning your fruit trees then please let me know. If there is something specific you would like to get more info on please also let me know so I can try get a detailed video made up for you 🌱
I've just found you so I'm doing a catch up. I'm looking at tree pruning as I've just bought an orange tree which was a mess. I live in Greece so your videos are perfect for me re climate.
I've alway shied away from fruit trees as I didn't have a clue how to prune them - now I do! You're a life saver. Many thanks.
Oh wow, yaaaaaay, I'm so happy to hear how this video has helped you better understand fruit tree pruning and I'm about to tackle some massive and old fruit trees that have gone wild so stick around to watch those in the coming months 🌻
Thanks for the video good idea happy day god bless you my friend 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you very much, Maribel 🙏🌱
Thank you so much for sharing, this video is useful to me .
It is only a pleasure and I'm so glad you found value in watching this video 🌻
I enjoyed the video
Thank you Khathutshelo 🌻
Thank you this was so helpful!
Love the practical tips .
Thank so much and I'm glad you are getting value out of watching them 🌱
What if you missed the dormancy period and they’ve already had a lot of growth this spring? Can I still do some hard pruning?
Hey Simone, thanks so much for the comment. I would advise to not do any hard pruning in spring. Spring is used for shhot selection and you can do some tip pruning, but hard cuts will really hurt the tree.
Here is a video I did around spring growth and pruning on citrus, but the same principles apy to other trees so watch this to get an idea of what pruning is best in spring 🌱
ruclips.net/video/qnAcB2n9k3o/видео.html
Could you explain how to prune to ensure straight growth? So on your diagram it would be explaining how you got that very first line sprouting from the ground to be perfect straight. Basically the straight foundation before the outward growths. Thank you!
This is a great question and thanks for taking the time to leave your comment!
To get a taller tree you can either remove side branches (not ideal) or regularly tip prune them and all the new growth they get. You then do not tip prune your central leader so you can redirect the growth to the leader without sacrificing the side branches.
Once you have reached your desired height the opposite would apply in that you would regularly tip prune the top branches and let the bottom or side ones grow freely.
This is a great way to channel growth to the area of the tree your need it 🌻
Hello Sir, do we need to prune the tall going trees as well...? (the ones we plant around the fence); or is it like they generally don't go here and there but straight and we allow them to grow own their own just like that naturally...?
Really good question! For me, personally, I only apply these pruning techniques to trees that produce fruit. Most non-edible trees will naturally grow the way they are meant to, but for fruit we want to maximised light, airflow and production as much as possible, which is why these techniques are so useful 🌻
I have 16 mangoe trees. 8 are about 8m to 10m high. The trunks are on average 40 to 50 CM across. I am going to cut them down in size. I'm stuck between cutting the trunk off a metre high and starting again. Is this possible? Or should I just cut the branches close to the ground.
The other 8 are thinner at the trunk. Have less branches so look like they can be cut back to about 1m long measuring from the trunk out.
Any advise please.
Wow, I can only imagine the yumminess that comes out of your orchard... I am definitely envious!
Luckily mangos can handle severe pruning but that would not be my choice as you will lose fruit production for a while.
Personally I would go for the 1/3 rule where every pruning season you cut back 1/3 of the total tree size. It will take anything up to 4 years to reach your desired height but you keep the tree very healthy and you can maintain fruit production.
Alternatively I would opt for your 2nd option and prune back to foundational branches and start from there. A trunk chop on a tree that size is going to set you back big time.
I hope this helps a bit... 🌻
Thanks for the video.
Would these pruning principles apply all fruit trees such as citrus as well? A request on pruning existing trees that are already established but have been neglected and getting them back in shape. What is that black paint on the cut area? Is it necessary to paint all cuts?
Great questions, Sascha, thank you! I am really looking forward to doing a more advanced pruning video on Citrus, but in the meantime, here are some answers for you.
Would these pruning principles apply all fruit trees such as citrus as well? Yes, I would. Citrus actually gives us a lot of flexibility with pruning. We can prune with an open centre (vase-shape) central leader, modified central leader, bush, etc. The growing cycle of citrus is to firstly push out vertical growth and then secondly push out horizontal growth off that new vertical growth. Just remember the weight of fruit cause branches to drop so plan your pruning and branches so you don't have shading out on the bottom branches.
What is that black paint on the cut area? Is it necessary to paint all cuts? That is a putty sealant that I use on my fig trees. Not so much the others. Figs have very soft and almost hollow centres, so I usually just seal up figs to avoid any possible rot from getting in. Pruning at an angle for water runoff should be enough, but I know how finicky figs can be.