Viron,
I think I remember reading you "prune 100% of your new growth" or something like that. I have been practicing the "when in doubt, thin out" and "make 90% of your cuts thinning" type of pruning. If you did say what I think I remember, do you do these cuts to encourage fruit spurs faster? or???? Was just out looking at my trees and thought of this. My peach tree looks good in lights. Supposed to be low 20s tonight. Glad our snow melted today. Thanks
Greg,
I think you/I meant – I ‘end up’ cutting every piece of growth. If I don’t make a heading cut, I’ll cut the entire piece back to the limb it began (thus thinning).
I do the cuts to both encourage fruit spur development and ‘beef-up’ the structure of the tree. If you leave your terminal buds intact they will continue to elongate the ‘limb’ rather than ‘force’ it to thicken up. One bud is left aimed the direction ‘I’ want the limb to head, and those behind it, usually 4 or 5, will become spurs or flower buds.
I knew for years (the early years at least) I was sacrificing fruit for strength - but I’m glad I did as my trees can now hold any load of fruit – just having withstood 30 packed inches of snow! A bear was once too much for them… and those darn Asian plums will still snap… but everything else is ready for action!
- Hey – just got my landline (phone-line) back 
so I’m about two days behind around here. Hope my answer is comprehendible.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
1 Guest(s)