I make pruning decisions based on how the tree serves its location and owner / caretaker. There are many ways to prune a fruit tree, based on how it works in your garden.
Here are questions to consider ahead of a consult:
- How old and big is the tree? Do you know its type and variety?
- Is this a heritage tree that you are trying to save?
- Do you pick the fruit or just gather the windfalls?
- If you pick, do you harvest from the ground, with ladders, by climbing?
- If you mow, do you use a push mower, a riding mower, a string trimmer?
- If you mow, are branches in the way of your mowing?
- Is the tree for: fresh eating, for cider, for cooking, for wildlife?
- Does the tree produce too much / too little fruit?
- Is the tree healthy; do you spray, what is it, why, and when?
- Do you like the fruit that the tree produces?
- Are you considering removing / replacing the tree?
Although there are some bad ways to prune, there is not a perfect way to prune, only a way that best suits you as well as the tree. How one interacts with (uses) a tree affects ones pruning decisions.
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