Peach pruning: why do we need the procedure and how to carry it out?

A peach is a special tree that requires a specific attitude to itself, as well as quality and constant care.One of the most important, as well as responsible procedures, is pruning such a plant. But at the same time it is necessary to study the rules of pruning well enough, which must be strictly followed.

Cut any fruit tree is necessary, as it prolongs his life, gives the opportunity to increase yields, and can also make it more resistant to poor climatic conditions. After all, the roots of plants receive from the earth a lot of different nutrients that evenly spread throughout the tree. Due to this, the branches that are not weighted with fruits grow much better and faster.

In the end, this leads to thickening of the crown. So, the tree becomes thick at the top and bare at the bottom. As a result, this can lead to lower yields of the fruit tree. This is one of the reasons why circumcision is so important. Deciding on this procedure, it is important to understand that the tree has both growth and fruitful shoots.

• Growth shoots have only vegetative buds. Besides, only in young peaches. In early spring they must be cut.
• Fruitful shoots are branches on which juicy and fragrant fruits grow over time.
• In addition, there are also mixed shoots, which are both growth and fruit buds. They should not be cut.

The most basic techniques in circumcision are:

• shortening sprouts;
• thinning the plant as a whole.

If you do not cut the branches, the number of fruit embryos on the peach will be huge. But nutrients will not be enough. And this means one thing - they will be small and unsaturated. Such an overload in some cases can even lead to the death of a peach tree.

Therefore, pruning trees in the garden is done in order to:

• provide peach sufficient illumination for all fruit-bearing branches and good ventilation;
• allow to leave only fruitful shoots;
• make a rejuvenation of the plant, due to the removal of old branches;
• make harvesting easier;
• the crown was the correct form.

Cutting off a plant can begin as early as the second year of his life. During this time, the peach will have enough time to get stronger. In addition, he will have side shoots, of which it is necessary in the future to form a tree.

Before this time, pruning is not necessary. The only thing that will be required is to remove the top, so that the branches begin to grow not up, but to the sides. Peach is considered a special crop that requires regular pruning. It is necessary to do this almost the entire season: in the spring, and in the summer, and in the autumn. Since the methods of circumcision are completely different, it is worth considering them in more detail. After all, each of them corresponds to a specific time.

If we talk about the spring pruning procedure, it is considered one of the most responsible. Indeed, at this time it is imperative to have time to circumcise even before the juice begins to appear. In addition, throughout the growing season it is necessary to do sanitary pruning. It includes cutting those branches that were damaged by diseases or pests.

And also at this time it is necessary to carry out the formation of the crown, that is, it is necessary to shorten all the fruit-bearing branches. This is necessary so that young shoots can develop.

This procedure is necessary in order to remove dead branches that were left unnoticed during spring. During this period, you need to identify the weakest shoots and shorten them a little. Summer pruning also implies the complete removal of sprouts in places where there are too many.

Peach is necessary and sanitary pruning during this period. It involves the removal of all branches that have been damaged by pests and various diseases. This will prevent diseases from spreading to the whole tree.In addition, be sure to carry out the rejuvenation of old trees. This is best done in August.

In summer, experienced gardeners spend the most pruning. Indeed, at this time the process of removing branches least injures such a culture as a peach. For example, during the fruiting period, you can remove all excess ovaries. This should well reflect on the harvest of all your favorite peaches.

After harvesting the peach can begin to prepare for the winter. Make sanitary pruning of those branches that have any infection. It is necessary to remove those that were broken off. It is very important to trim the branches after harvesting. At this time, the juice stops, so the tree will not receive much stress, unlike other seasons.

Autumn pruning can begin in September, but you need to finish it before October 15. This is necessary so that the tree could get a little stronger and stay strong for the winter.

In addition, you need to know that on how correctly the method of forming the crown will be chosen, it will directly depend on wintering. For example, in the south of Russia you can use such an option as “spindle”.

However, for other regions, this method is not suitable. The tree may freeze. Therefore, such an option as a “bowl” is better suited for central Russia. That is, the branches should be formed at the bottom, in the form of a bush.

Peach is a rather heat-loving crop, therefore pruning is best done according to the scheme. It is necessary to form correctly not only the crown itself, but also the whole “skeleton” of the tree.

For example, on a young tree of a columnar peach you need to form not 1, but 2 identical trunks. This is necessary so that in case of damage to one of them, the plant could quickly recover. It will be important to begin to form the basis of the crown as early as possible. Trimming the bowl is considered the best option. In addition, you can find a peach, the shaping of which is made in the form of a bush.

However, no less important is the timing. So, if the weather is rainy or wet, then it will contribute to the penetration through the cut of various infections. Therefore, it is best to do it in dry sunny weather. The following tools will be needed for trimming:

• pruner for pruning all unwanted shoots;
• Saw, with which you can remove the branches, which can not handle the pruner;
• copper sulphate, for disinfecting cuts and wounds;
• putty to close up these same cuts.

In order to make a tree in the shape of a bowl, it is necessary for a seedling that is at least two years old to measure the height of a boom up to 60 centimeters. After that, you must leave at least 3 branches, which should be located at a certain angle to the main conductor. In addition, they all must have a different direction.

All branches must be shortened so that only 2 buds are obtained, besides the upper one must be directed outwards. The conductor itself must be cut over the top branch. Other remaining shoots must be removed.

Those older trees also require pruning. They need to inspect and remove all branches that were frozen or broken during wintering. To spend peach rejuvenation, you need to remove all branches that grow more than 5 years.

First you need to examine all the increments. Those that grow vertically must be removed immediately. All the gains that remain, you need to pinch (pinch). And also it is necessary to inspect those branches that bear fruit.If among them are very weak, you need to remove them immediately.

The first thing to do is to remove all broken or diseased branches. Those that are not yet strong or thin should be shortened immediately by half. Bottom growth must also be removed.

Those regions where winters are quite cold, the procedure for cutting peaches should be done only sanitary.

Of great importance in the process of forming a tree is its proper fit. Very often, a peach is planted on a stock. Therefore, it should be planted so deeply that the place where the vaccination was given was at least 4 centimeters above the ground. Such planting of a tree makes it possible to find in time those shoots that come from the stock itself and immediately remove them.

When the peach grows, you can begin to form the crown. This can be done in different ways. For example, without tier. To do this, you must perform the following steps.

• In the spring, before the movement of juice begins, it is necessary to shorten those shoots that were able to adequately winter. At each shoot, 6-8 buds are needed. Of them in the future there will be branches with fruits.
• When May comes, all the shoots that have been left must be tied to the bricks and fixed at an angle of 45 degrees to the ground. You can remove the garter in the fall.
• In May it will be necessary to pinch all the tops of the shoots.
• During pruning you need to try to form a peach in the shape of a ball.

Fruiting young culture begins with the third or fourth year. Therefore, during this period, it is necessary to begin the formation of the crown so that the yield of peaches is stable. This should be done so that the lighting comes evenly.

In addition, if the tree is already beginning to bear fruit, it is possible to carry out such types of pruning as substitution and differentiation.

1. Substitution It includes a reduction of half of those shoots that have flower buds, on the fourth part. The second half is shortened to three buds. Further young shoots grow from both buds. One of them needs to be cut short, it will go on substitution, the second is longer, for fruiting. After the second branch of the fruit, it must be removed, and those shoots that are below, cut off as described above. This procedure must be repeated once.
2. Differentiation. Such a process involves thinning the top of the crown.

After eight years, almost all trees need rejuvenation. To do this, remove all damaged and dried branches, as well as those that have been damaged by pests or infectious diseases.

After that, you can begin to cut those branches that are more than 9 years old. They need to be shortened so that only fruiting sprouts are left.

If peach trees all this time have not been subjected to such a procedure as rejuvenation, then after 12 years it is necessary to restore them. To do this, on the old fruiting tops, you need to leave some of the strongest branches. Then they need to be cut to a third, and the rest of the shoots cut into a ring.

However, using this option, it is necessary to take into account that the part of the branches that should be cut should not exceed one third of the entire crown. If this is the case, then pruning should be done in stages. This method is necessary to ensure that the tree does not die.

Having considered all the pruning schemes, one must not forget that a plant like a peach will require much attention from gardeners.

It is imperative to process all slices.Some gardeners use garden var as a treatment, while others prefer garden paint. Both options contribute to the healing of wounds. However, garden pitch sometimes does not save cuts from rotting. While the paint seals them quite well.

In order for the tree to develop properly, it is necessary to conduct regular watering, as well as to loosen the ground. We must not forget to make the necessary fertilizers and mulch.

Every gardener should also be aware that pruning is strictly prohibited in winter. At this time, the tree may not recover after such a procedure and simply die.

When the gardener has familiarized himself with all the rules for peach pruning, as well as with the peculiarities of caring for it, you can proceed to the selection of the seedling and its planting. And in almost a few years you can get the first harvest of such fragrant fruits. The main thing in growing this crop is not to forget about all the rules and strictly follow them.

For peach pruning rules, see the next video.