Winter is the ideal time for pruning and thinning for some fruit trees. In the article we explain which trees you can cut in January and what needs to be taken into account.
Winter pruning: why is it so important for fruit trees?
In contrast to other woody plants needmost fruit treesIt is essential that they be pruned back so that they grow healthily and bear plenty of fruit. You have to remove the diseased and dead branches and thin out the tree crown to support the growth of the fruit-bearing branches.
The time at which this happens also plays an important role. Basically, it is better to choose winter when the view is not disturbed by leaves and fruits. In the cold months it is easier to find the diseased branches and make the cut properly and cleanly. Pruning in winter, when the tree is in dormant sap, is also better for the general health of the tree.
January is the right time for cutting these three trees
In winter, and especially in January, you can cut back some of the most common fruit trees. To avoid frost damage, you should wait for a period of mild temperatures and no major frosts. As long as the weather forecast does not predict temperatures below minus five degrees, you can cut the following trees in January.
The apple tree tolerates pruning well in winter
For fruit trees such as apples, pruning should be done during the tree's resting phase, between leaf fall and new growth. Pruning at the beginning of winter or in January is particularly beneficial for the apple tree. If these trees are not cut until late winter or early spring, there is a risk that new growth will be slowed down.
This is how you properly prune apple trees in January:
- Thin the crown – Cut off all branches and twigs that grow into the crown, cross each other or rub against each other up to the trunk.
- You should also cut off diseased, dead and damaged branches. Make the cut either at the branch trunk or to the next healthy side shoot.
- Cut off old fruit wood with overhanging growth.
Pruning pear trees in winter
Pear trees use, among other things, two-year-old wood for fruit production. This means you can benefit from regular pruning, which removes the old shoots and promotes new growth. And January is a good time to do this if the weather is right.
How to do winter pruning correctly:
- Begin by removing crossing, rubbing, weak, dead, diseased, damaged and dying branches.
- Trim the previous year's growth on each main branch by about a third to a bud in the desired direction. This encourages the development of new branches and runners and maintains good shape.
- Leave young side shoots uncut so they can develop fruit buds in the second year.
- Remove strong shoots (larger than 15 cm) that grow towards the center of the tree.
- For older trees, remove or thin out any shoot systems that have become clogged. If thinning or removal is necessary, remove shoots on the underside of branches where developing fruits do not receive enough light and produce inferior fruit.
Cut quince trees in January
Quinces have slower growth compared to apple and pear trees and therefore do not require annual pruning. Since these fruit trees form their fruit on old wood, annual pruning can harm rather than promote fruit production. To keep the tree healthy, you have to use scissors once every 4-5 years. If you have a perennial quince tree in your garden that you have never pruned before, you can take advantage of the opportunity now and prune it in January, when the tree is in a state of dormancy.
Cutting tips:
- Remove dead, diseased or damaged branches and thin out any unproductive shoots.
- Thin to improve light and air circulation – Remove no more than a quarter of the oldest branches by cutting them back to the trunk or to a shoot that is one-third the diameter of the branch being removed. Prune overhanging branches, very strong shoots and branches with low growth.
- You can also remove fruit shoots that are inside the crown as they do not produce good fruit.
- Remove any offshoots at the base and remove unwanted shoots on the main trunk.
Also interesting: What gardening work needs to be done in January? Thefind out here.
