Apricots or apricots are among the most popular fruits, which is why a small tree is enriching in every garden. Regular cuts ensure that the tree grows he althily and ensures a rich harvest every year.
When and how should you prune an apricot tree?
The apricot tree should be cut between the beginning of August and mid-October, ideally after the harvest. Different types of pruning such as planting, training, shaping and maintenance pruning ensure he althy and productive growth.
Time
Pruning of this fruit tree takes place between the beginning of August and mid-October. This summer cut has some advantages in contrast to an early cut before flowering. If you missed this point, you can carry out a spring cut from mid-March to mid-April.
Summer cut
Apricot trees are cut in summer directly after the harvest. Since assimilates are also removed from the tree by removing leaf mass, shoot growth is reduced. If you grab the scissors in time, the apricot tree can close its cuts until the first frosts.
Spring cut
Keep an eye on the weather forecast in spring, as frosts can damage the tree. Use scissors on frost-free and overcast days so that the tree is not stressed too much. In general, you should only carry out pruning measures shortly after winter in emergencies. If plant he alth is suffering due to old or diseased branches, care intervention is advisable.
Cutting types
An apricot tree needs some pruning over the course of its life so that the fruit tree bears rich fruit every year. The procedure differs depending on age.
Plant cutting
To achieve a good balance between crown and roots, you should cut the apricot tree immediately after planting. Shorten the main shoot, which protrudes furthest upwards, by a third. All remaining branches that form the crown framework are shortened by two thirds. Place the pruning shears (€14.00 on Amazon) half a centimeter above an eye that faces outwards. Completely remove shoots that are too weak or diseased.
Educational Cut
With this measure you ensure strong growth and create the basis for an aesthetic shape. To do this, choose three to five leading branches that grow flat outwards. Like the central shoot, shorten this by a third. Competing branches and those that grow into the interior of the crown are removed completely. You can do the parenting session annually in the early years.
Topiary
In the following years, additional scaffold branches will be built so that the crown grows denser. Cut off all side shoots from these leading branches, shortening the upper branches to two buds and the lower ones to five buds. This will give you a roof-shaped appearance. Cut back the central shoot so that it ends 20 centimeters above the side scaffold branches.
Conservation cut
In order for the apricot tree to develop new long shoots, it must be pruned more intensively every few years. Radical thinning ensures that more light falls into the crown again.
Cutting tips:
- remove steeply growing shoots completely
- thin out branches that are close together
- Spare fruit-bearing branches inside
