The key to keeping fruit trees attractive and productive is annual pruning. After new growth has reached 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm. Summer pruning Summer is also a good time to prune stonefruit so they can heal while still in active growth – the best time is immediately after fruiting, especially for apricots. If you prune off fruit with damage from codling moths, mites or aphids, be careful with your orchard sanitation. Are there any trees you can prune in summer? Worry not, pruning is not the brain surgery it has been made out to be. Summer pruning is less common on untrained trees, but as garden apples and pears are now almost always grown on dwarfing stock (tall, standard trees are not pruned in summer), it's not only possible, but they'll be much easier to control and you'll gain a deeper understanding of how your trees … ), select the central leader and remove all other branches 4 inches (10 cm.) There are some key steps you can take for pruning your fruit trees in the summer to ensure growth for many seasons to come. The best time for pruning fruit trees that are newly planted is in the summer, after new growth has begun to sprout from the initial cuts. 1. Begin with sharp, clean tools. Pruning your fruit bearing trees is key to strong growth and an overall healthy plant but cutting at the wrong time of year can cause lasting damage or kill the tree! Sappy hardwoods: Y ou can prune maple, walnut and birch trees. Insects Pest control can be a benefit of summer pruning too. below it. We think the best time to start pruning branches is in the early spring. Evergreen trees: You can do some light trimming in the summe r but save the major pruning for the dormant season. Judicious summer pruning can promote even ripening of fruit and at the same time, have some dwarfing effect. Be sure to check out our Summer Pruning Fruit Trees Tips to help provide continued successful growth and watch our video below for the full guide. If you want to keep your mature fruit trees at an easy-to-harvest height, summer pruning is essential. Trees That Benefit From Summer Pruning. For a clean cut, any loppers or clippers you … There are a few different opinions on the best season to prune fruit trees. Fruit trees: A small trim won't harm fruit trees, but it can reduce the amount of fruit they grow. There are the few species that should be pruned in the mid-summer months such as Maple, Birch, and Walnut trees. When you prune limbs on these trees they will typically ooze sap, so you want to do your pruning … Summer shearing of peach trees can reduce fruit size and soluble solids, but if vigorous vegetative shoots that shade the tree interior are removed by hand pruning by early July, quality shoots in the tree interior can be maintained. Dispose of the fruit and branches promptly, and don't compost them. This revolutionary pruning method will give you more fruit growing options, because nearly any deciduous fruit variety can be trained to stay compact. Summer Pruning Fruit Trees Tips. When to Prune Fruit Trees.