Ok this is going to be my first question. I have Two patio peach trees that i bought last summer from Lowe's. They had plenty of the more ornamental variety that has the reddish more purple leaves. But they only had one left of the green leaf. The one with the reddish leaves (well call it RL for short) has a real nice frame already established i think. It has 4 main scaffolding branches heading out in different directions. Though there where some that had more leaves and branches to choose from I got this one b/c it looks like it been given more space and the better frame structure to grow into.
The Green leaf (well call it GL for short) however didn't have the greatest structure to grow from i think. But like i said it was the last one to choose from so what can you do. It unlike the RL looks like it has been cramped up close to some other plants and has some branches growing in unwanted directions, and also looks like it might have to many small and inferior branches near the center, bottom, or not on the scaffolds that the RL had removed from the nursery. Maybe they left them on the GL on purpose, but I’m thinking they shot out last summer after i transplanted both into slightly larger pots and fertilized.
Soooo My question is should i prune my GL peach tree to better achieve the 4 branch scaffolds that i want for the long term of the tree. I’m pretty sure in a couple of years i will living somewhere where i'll want to put them in the ground but for the next couple of years they'll be in pots. After reading up and looking the open vase structure that most people try and develop with peach trees I'm thinking some work needs to be done on the GL. I have included pictures of both plants (First 2 pics are of RL, the rest of GL), and even went so far as taking a green and red brush to a picture of the GL, on the branches i think i should keep and those that i think should be removed. I think there pretty clear pictures with everything highlighted in green the branches i think should be kept and the red branches those that should be removed. I haven't done any cutting on either but have noticed the buds are swelling on both so I’m thinking a move needs to be made if i need to do anything.
Thanks in advance for your help. I really love these trees and even have a few other small potted fruit trees i may submit questions on; A Chickasaw Plum, grapefruit, a lemon, and a few others. I’m really looking forward to getting some outside help with this cause after reading a 1000 articles i don't know if I’m more informed, or just clueless lol Thanks Again
Ok guys, I'm a newbie and i cannot figure out how to post pictures off of photobucket . com onto this website. I'm not to good at this but, i have tried copying the URL links, the HTML codes, and the IMG codes but none of them will let me upload the pictures of my peach trees. It keeps teeling me my post look to spamy and i can completly understand cause i am new, and i HATE those computer advertisement that take over boards. So if this is what ya'll gotta do to stop it than i understand 100 %. But can anybody tell me how i can get my 100 % legit peach tree pictures uploaded to make my thread go ALOT smoother?! Thanks in advance!!! 
Hey John, I live in the upstate of South Carolina in Anderson, which is about 20 minutes from Clemson University. I think this is zone 7b, but like i said i am just getting into growing, so not 100% certain. I am really enjoying growing both of these trees, but have read many of articles that mention one of the worst things i could do is neglect them, and not do anything as far as pruning and shaping of these small trees. I'd really appreciate and be thankful for any suggestions you might have? And thanks again in advance!!
Pruning and training to achieve shape is great but don't prune stone fruit like peaches in the rain. You and I both live in places that are rough on peaches due to the diseases. Easiest places to grow peaches are in dry mountainous areas like in between the Cascade Mts. and the Rocky Mts. Wait until it's dry to prune them.
John S
PDX OR
Thanks John I'll wait till we get some more sunshine for a week or so, before i do anything to them. But as far as pruning what do you think of my outline?! Is it too much? Or should i really not be concerned with losing so much of last years growth in light off wanting to reshape it into more of the healthy open vased form. I don't know if you can tell from the pics but it just has some really awkward growing branches, i'm guessing b/c of limited light and stretching before i bought it.
Ps. I found the card that came with it and the Green leaf variety is a Bonanza Patio Peach it turns out. And the Red leaf in the first two pics the Bonfire.
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