Fruit trees should be pruned in early spring after the danger of severe cold weather has past and before the trees leaf out. A fruit tree should have from 5 to 8 scaffold branches spaced 6 to 18 inches apart vertically and with crotch angles of 45 degrees or more. Narrow crotch angles are weak and will split under a heavy load of fruit. Never allow more than one leader on a fruit tree. Before pruning, remember that excessive pruning will delay fruit production.

After trees begin to bear fruit, a different method of pruning should be used. Apple and pear trees produce their fruit on spurs, which develop on the larger, older branches. Each spring prune off part of last years new growth as well as any dead, damaged or diseased branches on the tree. Also remove water sprouts and suckers. To increase sunlight penetration into the center area of the tree, prune out some of the smaller twigs growing within the tree scaffold.

Plum and apricot trees produce their fruit on one year old growth and on vigorous shoots from older wood. Each year some of the older non-productive branches should be pruned out to stimulate new vigorous growth. Don't remove new growth to control tree size. You will be removing much of the potential fruit bearing wood.

This page was last updated May 2003

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