| If you have just entered the tree growing world, | | | | thing to look for when you start pruning is any |
| you have no doubt heard the term "pruning" tossed | | | | branches which are dead or diseased. These are quite |
| around by the more veteran growers. Well, I have | | | | easy to recognize. Usually they don't bear any fruit, |
| something to admit. For several years, I did not even | | | | and might be misshapen or discolored. Don't hesitate |
| know what pruning was. I heard the term a lot, but I | | | | at all in chopping these guys off, as they are nothing |
| never felt comfortable asking someone what exactly | | | | but detrimental to the health of your tree. |
| it was. Even though it would have benefited my | | | | Sometimes a branch can be dead or diseased |
| gardening and tree growing, I was too prideful to | | | | without making it too obvious. If this is the case, |
| ask. I've found that pride is the reason for the failure | | | | simply wait until the tree is flowering and it will |
| of many great endeavors; if I had just asked | | | | become obvious by not growing anything. |
| someone what pruning was, I wouldn't have | | | | The second type of branch to look for is the branch |
| undergone a few of the disasters that occurred | | | | that is too close in range to all the other ones. If it |
| during my first years of gardening. | | | | grows at such a length and angle that the end is right |
| Pruning is the removal of dead or unneeded branches | | | | next to all the other branches, they might end up |
| to encourage the growth of flowers. Usually a tree | | | | crowding each other out. Take off the smaller of the |
| will end up devoting energy to branches that don't | | | | two branches to allow the larger one to have the |
| need it, while neglecting branches which are bearing | | | | breathing room that it needs. This same rule applies |
| more fruit. If you remove the branches that are | | | | to the weight balance of your tree. Sometimes, for |
| taking all the nutrients, you will begin to see a flourish | | | | reasons we will never understand, a tree will grow |
| in the other ones. Pruning also keeps the tree in | | | | several branches on one side and weigh itself into |
| shape by keeping the branches even. This prevents it | | | | being lopsided. |
| from becoming weighed down on one side. Having | | | | So hopefully I have provided you with a basic |
| too many branches on one side could cause the tree | | | | knowledge of pruning. There are more situations and |
| to become permanently crooked. | | | | types of branches that require pruning, but what I've |
| Many gardeners don't even think about pruning their | | | | outlined is the very basic parts. These can alter |
| trees until they start to bear fruit. This is a big | | | | depending on how old your tree is. For example, for |
| mistake, and you should never neglect to care for a | | | | the first 3 years of a tree's growth it requires pruning |
| tree just because it hasn't yet begun to produce. | | | | that follows more "formative" guidelines. After the |
| During the entire process of growth, you should | | | | tree is well established, you will need to use |
| prune the tree in a way that it is even and uniform. | | | | "regulatory" pruning to keep it where you would like |
| Then, when it does start to produce fruit, the results | | | | it to be. There are entire books written on how to |
| will be significantly greater. It is very easy to tell the | | | | prune trees depending on how old they are. There |
| difference between a tree that has been pruned | | | | are far too many techniques for me to go over, so if |
| regularly during its growth, and one that has been | | | | you want to use these advanced techniques then |
| neglected. Generally the shape of the tree is much | | | | you should go to your local library and check out a |
| more natural looking if it has been pruned. The first | | | | book. |