Some hobby gardeners, when purchasing a columnar apricot, assume that it will retain its columnar shape without any further intervention from the gardener and that no special care measures are necessary. Regular pruning is also essential for a columnar apricot in order to achieve not only an attractive growth habit but also the highest possible yield.
How do I cut a columnar apricot correctly?
To prune a columnar apricot correctly, shorten the leading shoot by a third annually and the side branches to 2 to 3 pairs of eyes (leaf axils). Avoid massive pruning and instead prune 2-3 times a year during the growing season.
The right time to cut a columnar apricot
Many fruit trees, such as apple trees, tolerate large-scale pruning particularly well in the winter months when the sap is dormant. The situation is somewhat different with columnar apricots, which in Central Europe generally rely on the mildest possible climate and good location conditions. Winter or excessive pruning of a columnar apricot can sometimes result in the tree dying as a whole or at least entire branches dying. However, the columnar apricot can be cut relatively easily during the growing season and several times a year. If possible, this should not happen during periods of extreme heat and drought. Basically, a columnar apricot should be shortened subtly about 2 to 3 times a year instead of being brusquely cut back once.
Shorten the leading drive
Pillar apricots are not cut in height until they have reached their maximum growth height. Cutting off the tip of the top leading shoot is important to stimulate lateral growth and branching of the plant at an early stage of growth. That's why the leading shoot is shortened by around a third of its length every year. Last but not least, this can also provide an important stimulus for the formation of many flowers.
Cut back the side branches of the apricot
Today's apricot varieties are sometimes bred for yield levels below which the branches of the fruit tree can collapse without support before the fruits are fully ripe. That's why the branches of a columnar apricot are shortened to a length of around 2 to 3 pairs of eyes (leaf axils), not just for visual reasons, but for very practical reasons. If there is strong growth, such pruning can be done between spring and autumn up to 3 times a year.
Tip
When pruning fruit trees, the gardener always needs to have a sense of proportion. The individual branches should always be cut in such a way that the crown structure is as airy as possible and the branches do not grow into each other.
