Pruning a peach tree is not as straightforward as other fruit trees. If the tree is not pruned right, it can turn into a tangled mass, block out sunlight, and create stiff airflow. Also, the pruning time can influence the outcome notably.
So, how and when to prune a peach tree?
Peach trees need to be pruned into an open “V” or vase shape for the optimum outcome. Early spring is the best time to prune peach trees in your backyard.
Let’s discuss these factors in detail.
Why Should You Prune Your Peach Trees?
Peach trees need slightly less care than other fruit trees. As peaches ripen earlier in the season, various diseases and pests cannot harm the harvest. Also, due to several dwarf varieties of peach trees, harvesting is easier for peach trees.
However, you will need to prune your peach trees annually to promote general tree vigor and yields. Pruning, fertilization, pest management, and irrigation can influence peach tree performance greatly.
Pruning creates a robust framework for your peach tree to support large yields. Also, vegetative growth and fruit production can be balanced when a peach tree is properly pruned. You can control the spread and height of your peach tree for easier harvesting with pruning.
With proper pruning, you can remove broken and diseased branches, suckers, and water sprouts. Therefore, the tree canopy will open up, allowing light and air to penetrate.
Proper tree pruning is an important step in the tree care process for improving its beauty and ensuring that it lives a long and safe life.
If peach trees are not trimmed, they will be more likely to catch diseases, have a shorter life period, and have overproduction, which will reduce the size of the fruit.
Thus, you will need to prune your peach trees properly at the right time.
The Best Time to Prune a Peach Tree
Most fruit-bearing trees need to be pruned when they are dormant. However, for peach trees, pruning in the winter makes them less cold-hardy and susceptible to dieback.
Early spring is the perfect time for you to prune your peach trees. In February, peach buds start to swell and turn pink. You can start pruning your peach trees right then.
However, do not prune your peach trees earlier than in the spring. It is better to wait than prune your plants too early. Pruning at the right time will reduce the chances of pest infestation in your peach trees.
If shoots are developing in the center of your peach trees, you can prune them at any time. These shoots will block air and sun from reaching the fruits and impact your harvest badly. Also, when you prune shoots in the summer, you will have fewer shoots to remove in the following spring.
Ways to Prune a Peach Tree
For the perfect growth of your peach tree. It will allow you to have a better harvest and get larger fruit. So, we will discuss 3 ways you can prune your peach tree:
1. Pruning a Young Peach Tree
It is crucial to start the growth of your peach tree in the right direction, right from planting. Pruning helps you exceptionally in this manner. If you have planted your peach tree in winter, wait a few months before spring appears and the sap begins running.
Prune your peach tree so the lowest branch of the plant is 15 inches (38 cm) from the ground. As your tree grows, the branches will go higher. So, avoid pruning too high from the ground.
The tallest branch of your peach tree should be about 30 inches (76 cm) from the ground. Prune other branches that are taller than 30 inches.
Ideally, all branches of your peach tree should grow at a 45-degree angle. If none of the branches of your tree follow this measurement, trim all the branches but a single bud. Then wait for new buds to grow.
Choose 2 -3 scaffold limbs of your peach tree. Scaffold limbs are the largest branches of your peach tree that begin at the trunk. These limbs should form a radial pattern from the trunk, each facing different directions from other branches. These limbs will house smaller lateral branches as the plant matures.
While pruning, trim the branches close to the tree trunk. This will offer a small collar of growth, preventing decay in the branches. Use thinning cuts for plants that are aged less than a year. If you want to remove part of the branches, use heading cuts. However, when you are pruning younger branches, avoid heading cuts to prevent unwanted water shoot and sucker growth.
2. Pruning a Mature Peach Tree
You will want to prune all the unhealthy and dead growth for a mature peach tree. The following growths of a peach tree can be removed at any time of the year:
- Fungus-infected branches
- Water shoots on top branches
- Suckers
- Dried fruits from earlier harvest
So, while pruning your matured peach tree, you will need to choose 4 -6 primary branches and trim off the rest. All those branches are growing up at a 45-degree angle from the trunk.
Remove branches that are growing horizontally or vertically from the plant as they can break easily when bearing fruit. Start pruning your peach tree in a “V” shape pattern. All your branches should mimic the appearance of the letter “V.”
Chop off branches that cross each other to let air and sunlight pass. If done right, your peach tree should look like an open vase with a clear center. It will allow sunlight to enter all places of your plant.
Remove the branches that are growing upwards on your head. These branches will make picking harvest difficult.
Prune your peach tree near the branch base. While cutting branches, make sure you are trimming at the same angle that the branches are growing. Keep ¼ inches from the lateral bud to avoid harming the plant and open for infection.
If any branch exceeds 1-inch diameter, you will need to start with three cuts to prune properly. First, cut halfway up the branch from the underside. Then cut from top-down about one inch further. The branches’ weight will help them break easily. Then make your cut near the branch collar.
Related Article: When it comes to tree maintenance, you must understand the distinction between tree trimming and tree pruning so that you can decide which method is ideal for your trees.
3. Pruning Tools to Prune a Peach Tree
You will need sharp blades and clean cuts when pruning your peach tree. Otherwise, your peach tree can get wounded and be susceptible to fungal diseases.
A professional secateurs or a hand pruner can be the best tool for pruning your peach tree. You will need to ensure that the steel in your pruning tool isn’t rusted and sharp enough to make clean cuts.
You can prune new growths with a pair of bypass secateurs. However, older and larger branches may need a pair of loopers or even a hand saw.
For harvesting, a lightweight telescopic pruner can exceptionally reduce your efforts. You can get a long arm pruner to reach the fruits growing on the high branches. So, here is the list of tools you will need to prune your peach tree properly:
- Professional secateurs
- Hand pruner
- Bypass secateurs
- Loopers
- Hand saw
- Lightweight telescopic pruner
- Long arm pruner
Make sure to look after your pruning tools. You can find tools made from Japanese steel that are popular for their high-quality and heavy-duty services. Also, find tools that allow you to work freely without fatigue.
How Much Pruning Should be Done for a Peach Tree?
Keep 3 -5 large branches of your peach tree growing at a 45-degree angle. Trim other large branches so the existing ones can get enough light, air, water, and other nutrients.
Remove any limbs that are growing inward, horizontal, vertical, or downward. Also, consider removing pencil-sized branches or shoots that are growing straight up or down your plant. Trim the red shoots and remaining fruiting branches around 18 – 24 inches (46 -60 cm) growing outward of the plant.
How to Train Your Peach Tree?
You can use your peach tree to decorate your plain south-facing wall of the vegetable garden trail. As the peach tree can be trained as an espalier or fan shape, these can enhance the aesthetic of your whole backyard.
You can train your peach tree into a fan shape if your wall is well lit. In this shape, multiple branches will be growing from the base of your peach tree.
On the other hand, especially-shaped peach trees will have a vertical trunk and multiple horizontal tires. The branches here are kept short of increasing the harvest of your peach trees.
It is a good idea to plant your peach trees near a wall. This way, your plant can retain heat to ripen both buds and fruit. Also, the fan structure of your peach tree will keep raindrops off and help your plant avoid leaf kerning.
If your garden doesn’t have enough space, a step-over shape is the best possible way to train your peach tree. It will utilize minimal space and will maximize fruit growth.
Peach Tree Maintenance Tips
For the best possible result for your peach trees, follow these tips to maintain them properly:
- Use sharp and clean pruning tools to prune your peach trees at the correct time.
- Disinfect your pruning tools before and after using.
- Look out for peach leaf curls and take the necessary steps to avoid such.
- Prune out the affected stems and diseased leaves from the tree if your peach tree is under attack by a disease.
- Remove any diseased peach leaves fallen on the ground to break the disease life cycle.
- Do not prune your peach tree on a wet day.
- Do not use waste material for compost.
- Pruning during fall and winter makes your peach tree susceptible to silver leaf disease. Do not prune your plant during these times.
Consult an Arborist
Pruning peach trees is essential for healthy growth and a larger harvest. However, your plant can be vulnerable to diseases and fungal growth if not done properly. Therefore, if you are not entirely sure, make sure to consult a professional arborist call at (800) 478-7966 to get help with the tree management job.
With timely and proper pruning, your peach trees will look exceptional, and you will have a better harvest from your peach trees.
