The Fruit Tree You Should Be Pruning In November To Boost Growth

Pruning is essential if you want to keep your fruit trees healthy. Doing this will stimulate healthy growth, and over time, help the tree develop stronger branches. With most apple trees, November is when you're wrapping up harvesting for good. As temperatures drop, apple trees start losing their leaves and prepare to go into dormancy for the winter. You might think that after picking all of those apples, all your work is done and you can just enjoy the fruits of your labor. Sure, November is great for apple tarts and applesauce, but before you put the gardening tools away and start cozying up by the fire, you should prune your apple tree to boost its growth next season.

In some cases, like with newer trees with weaker roots, pruning is a great way to balance out the weight of the tree and help it survive and establish itself. And of course, pruning also has the benefit of making your tree look more balanced. By giving it the right shape, you can make next year's apple picking a lot easier. And these aren't the only trees you should be pruning in the winter for a healthier spring. This is also true for fruit trees like quinces or pears, and some berry bushes.

To prune an apple tree, you'll need a sharp tool like pruning shears or a pruning saw. Depending on the size of your tree, you'll need a stable ladder to reach the higher branches. If you're planning to plant a fruit orchard in your yard, this kind of ladder will come in handy for harvesting, too.

By pruning an apple tree, you can help it breathe better. Try to thin out the most crowded areas of the canopy by removing awkward branches, such as those growing upright, towards the trunk, or towards the ground. By doing this, you'll allow more air and light to reach the branches of the tree, which is essential for fruit production and to help prevent illnesses.

When pruning an apple tree, the goal is to remove 10% to 20% of the tree's canopy. Start by removing older branches to encourage new ones to grow in their place, which are typically more vigorous and productive. Look for branches that are 1/2 inch to 2 inches in diameter and that don't have many fruit buds growing on them. While you should remove these older branches, even if they're still healthy, you also need to remove any broken, dead, or diseased ones. That way, when the tree comes out of dormancy in spring, it won't be spending any of its energy on the wrong branches.

To remove branches, it's best to cut back all the way to where they sprout from another, bigger branch. This spot, also called the "branch collar," is going to heal and callous over time. By pruning during colder months, you're allowing the tree to take enough time to recover and heal before spring rolls around. However, it's best to do this when the weather is rather dry. Water can increase the risks of trees catching infections through their cuts, which is dangerous. If you're expecting a wet winter, make sure to cut while you can in November. On the contrary, hold off if the fall is humid and rainy.