Lexi Webster
Pruning an apricot tree in Western Australia requires knowledge of the tree's age and location, as well as the desired shape and health of the tree. Pruning is essential to ensure the tree remains healthy, maintains a good shape, and produces a delicious harvest. The timing of pruning depends on the specific goals, with winter pruning for mature trees focusing on structure and shape, while summer pruning promotes quicker healing and reduced risk of disease. Pruning in spring encourages fruit production, while autumn pruning is suitable for removing deadwood and maintaining tree health. Young trees require more aggressive pruning to establish a good structure, with a focus on developing shape and encouraging growth. Various tools, such as secateurs, loppers, and pruning saws, are necessary for effective pruning, and it is important to disinfect these tools to prevent the spread of disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to prune | Late winter to early spring (August to September) for young trees; summer or autumn for mature trees |
| How often to prune | Once a year, but more often if the tree has deadwood |
| Tools | Sharp and clean secateurs, loppers, pruning saw, ladder |
| Aim | Remove dead, diseased, or broken branches; prevent branches from crossing; improve airflow; remove suckers; shape the tree; improve fruit production |
| Method | Cut branches 0.25 inches from the trunk; cut thinner branches with secateurs and thicker branches with a pruning saw; cut branches at a 45-degree angle |
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What You'll Learn
When to prune: spring, summer, autumn, or winter
Apricot trees can be pruned in spring, summer, autumn, or winter, depending on the desired outcome and the age of the tree.
Spring Pruning
Pruning young apricot trees in late winter to early spring (August to September) is recommended. This is when new leaves emerge, and the tree is actively growing but not yet fruiting, so the cuts will be smaller and heal quicker. This is called "formative pruning", which helps develop the tree's shape and structure. It encourages stronger growth and more fruit production.
Summer Pruning
Summer pruning is beneficial for mature apricot trees as it ensures branches heal quickly and minimises the risk of disease. It is recommended to prune after fruiting. Thin out fruit-producing branches in early summer, when apricots are about one inch. This helps prevent over-production and improves fruit colour and health. Remove small sprouts and branches that are dead, diseased, damaged, or growing straight down.
Autumn Pruning
Pruning in autumn is acceptable, but it is crucial to choose a warm and dry day with a forecast for continued warm weather.
Winter Pruning
Winter pruning is typically done when the tree is dormant and not actively growing. This method is more focused on protecting the structure of the tree and removing dead, diseased, or broken branches. While it is easier to see and manage the structure of the tree in winter, cuts take much longer to heal, leaving open wounds vulnerable to disease and moisture.
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Pruning tools: secateurs, loppers, saw, ladder, gloves
Pruning an apricot tree requires a variety of tools, including secateurs, loppers, a saw, a ladder, and gloves. Here is some more information about these tools and their uses:
Secateurs
Secateurs, also known as hand pruners, are small handheld tools used for cutting branches and stems up to half an inch in diameter. They are perfect for precise cuts on smaller plants, shrubs, and thin branches. Secateurs can be bypass or anvil. Bypass secateurs are the most common type, featuring two curved blades that pass by each other like scissors, allowing for clean and precise cuts. Anvil secateurs have a blade that comes down onto a flat surface and are useful for removing dead or dry wood.
Loppers
Loppers are larger cutting tools with long handles that require two hands to operate. They are used for cutting thicker branches, typically ranging from half an inch to around two inches in diameter. Loppers can also be bypass or anvil. Bypass loppers have two curved blades that pass by each other to make clean cuts and are ideal for cutting live wood and green branches. Anvil loppers are best for cutting dead or dry wood and can handle slightly thicker branches. Pole loppers have an extendable handle to reach higher branches.
Saw
A pruning saw is used for cutting thicker branches, up to five inches thick.
Ladder
A ladder is necessary for reaching higher branches that cannot be safely cut from the ground. When using a ladder, it is important to maintain stable footing and be aware of your surroundings, including potential hazards such as power lines.
Gloves
Gloves are an important piece of protective gear to wear when pruning. They help protect your hands from cuts, scratches, and other injuries that may occur during the pruning process.
It is also important to keep your pruning tools clean, sharp, and in good condition. This will help ensure clean cuts and reduce the risk of accidents and the spread of plant diseases.
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Pruning young trees: for structure and shape
Pruning young apricot trees is essential for developing their shape and structure. In Western Australia, this process is typically done in late winter to early spring, especially in the Lismore and Northern Rivers area. This timing ensures that the cuts will be smaller and will heal quicker as the tree is actively growing but not yet fruiting.
To begin pruning a young apricot tree, start near the ground by removing shoots or branches growing low on the trunk, about 45 cm above the ground. Remove any branches that are weak, broken, or growing outwards at odd angles. Trim off branches that are growing more upwards than outwards or developing a "narrow crotch". This will encourage an open-form crown with good air circulation, reducing the risk of infections such as fungal diseases.
Select three to five of the strongest branches to form the foundation of your tree, also known as scaffold branches. These branches should be balanced and growing at a similar rate. Mark them with brightly coloured ribbon or string to ensure you don't accidentally trim them later. Cut most of the remaining branches about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) above where they connect to the trunk, using shears or a pruning saw depending on their thickness.
Pruning young apricot trees aggressively during the first three years is recommended to aim for growth rather than fruit production. This involves cutting off any new branches growing towards the trunk or other branches to train the tree to grow in the proper structure. Thin out fruit-producing branches in early summer when the apricots are about one inch in size to prevent over-production and improve fruit colour and health.
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Pruning mature trees: after fruiting
Pruning mature apricot trees in Western Australia is best done in summer after fruiting. This ensures that the branches heal quickly and minimises the risk of disease. It is also acceptable to prune mature apricot trees in winter while they are dormant, but this is more for shape or structural damage. Winter pruning makes it easier to identify dead or damaged branches since there are few leaves.
When pruning, use sharp tools and make clean cuts at a forty-five-degree angle. Any uneven cuts or abrasions can gather moisture and rot or become infected. Remove any deadwood, brittle branches, and damaged leaves. Getting rid of this clutter allows you to get a better look at your tree and decide what else needs tending. Make sure to leave enough space between the branches so they don't run into each other and cause damage.
Prune away any small leafy growths, waterspouts, and suckers, as these take nutrients away from your fruit-bearing branches. Suckers are stems that grow from the root system of the tree and compete with your apricot tree for light and resources. If left alone, they will turn into trees themselves. Trim away suckers when they are young and small.
To encourage fruit production, choose 3-5 branches to bear fruit and shorten or cut away the rest near where they connect to the trunk. Shorten the tree's overall height to make all the branches easy to reach when it's time to pick the apricots.
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What to prune: deadwood, crossed branches, weak branches
Pruning an apricot tree is essential for its health and fruit production. While the tree will survive without pruning, it may lead to problems like slowed growth, smaller harvests, and fungal diseases. Pruning should be done at least once a year, but it is best to do it whenever deadwood is noticed. Deadwood can be identified by its bark, which is loose and slippery compared to the bark of live branches. Deadwood harbours insects that spread disease, so removing it will promote healthy growth by ensuring that nutrients are supplied only to the useful parts of the plant.
Crossed branches should also be pruned as they can rub against each other, creating sites for fungal spores or bacteria to enter. Pruning branches that cross over or compete with each other will also leave an open space at the centre of the tree, allowing more light and better airflow. This helps to prevent the tree from becoming crowded, which makes it vulnerable to infections, especially fungal infections.
Weak branches or shoots should be removed as this encourages established branches to grow more vigorously and produce more fruit. When pruning weak branches, it is important to cut them back to the main trunk. This will help to ensure that the tree has a handful of strong, healthy branches that will form the foundation of its structure.
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Frequently asked questions
Apricot trees can be pruned in winter, summer, or autumn. However, it is more beneficial to prune in summer or autumn when cuts will heal quickly, reducing the risk of disease or moisture entering the tree. For young apricot trees, the best time to prune is in late winter to early spring (August to September) before the growing season.
Regardless of the time of year, you should only prune an apricot tree if it needs it. Signs that your tree will benefit from pruning include dead or diseased wood, broken or torn branches, crossed branches, a crowded centre, weak branches or shoots, and a young tree that needs pruning for structure.
You will need a range of sharp and clean tools for pruning an apricot tree, such as bypass secateurs or clippers, anvil secateurs, loppers, pole loppers, a pruning saw, and a ladder to reach higher branches.
