How to properly prune an apricot in the fall and why you need it

Apricot is a light-loving tree that actively grows and bears fruit abundantly only with sufficient sunlight. To get a stable harvest, you need to properly care for the crop. Pruning is one of the main ingredients in grooming. With its help, they restrain the excessive growth of branches and regulate the number of fruits.

How to properly prune an apricot tree, read the article.

Why prune an apricot in the fall

Autumn pruning of apricot forms the crown, increases yield and prolongs life. Due to the excessively active growth of shoots and their thickening, the risk of diseases increases, the tree dries up and may even die.

Pruning prepares the apricot for winter rest, allows it to gain strength for the next year. Seasonally damaged and non-viable branches are removed, a balance is established between fruitful and deciduous shoots.

What will happen if you do not do it

The fruit culture is distinguished by abundant flowering and the appearance of many ovaries, from the excess of which it is not able to get rid of on its own. If you do not control their number, this will damage the tree - under the weight of so many fruits, the branches will break.

What happens if the procedure is neglected:

1. A harmoniously developed crown will not form - the shoots will stick out in all directions.
2. The branches will grow chaotic.
3. New fruit shoots are not formed - the yield will drop, the tree will quickly age.
4. The fruits are crushed, their quality and taste will deteriorate.

Pruning is the foundation of a tree's health.

Types of trimming

There are three main types of autumn pruning: shaping, rejuvenating and regulating. Each of them has its own unique purpose.

Formative

It gives the crown a harmonious shape, which allows all fruiting shoots to be evenly illuminated and receive abundant nutrients. The procedure is performed from the first year of the tree's life.

Regulatory

It is carried out on an adult tree when it is actively bearing fruit. The procedure maintains the shape of the crown and stimulates the yield.

All thickened branches are removed from the middle of the tree so that it is better illuminated by the sun. On skeletal branches, excess young shoots are cut out to avoid overloading.

Anti-aging

Adult apricot trees (over 6 years of age), with insufficient care, suspend the growth of new shoots. But these trees have excellent regenerative ability. One rejuvenating procedure is enough to enhance the growth of branches.

Important! It is recommended to prune the old tree not at one time, but gradually, over several years. Otherwise, the tree will weaken or even die.

Timing of pruning

The apricot is pruned throughout life. But this procedure is especially important in the first years of tree growth and development. It is easier to care for a crown that is correctly formed in the early stages.

After planting, the plant is shortened to a height of 1 m. Branches growing below 50 cm from the ground are removed to the base. The rest must be at least 20 cm apart.

The branches are pruned before the onset of cold weather. All cuts must be tightened, otherwise the tree will get sick.

Important! In the autumn months, only the early and middle varieties are pruned.

In order for the apricot to grow stronger and prepare for winter, the optimal time for autumn pruning is from late September to mid-October.

How to properly prune an apricot in autumn

Autumn pruning has mainly restorative value. The tree gets rid of old barren branches, dry and excess shoots are removed:

1. When pruning, hold the secateurs so that the lower part of the cut is at the base of the bud.
2. The stumps should not remain - they will cause infection.
3. Start thinning out thickened branches from the middle of the crown.
4. On trees over 5 years old, first remove diseased branches, and then abnormally growing ones.

In autumn, young branches that bore fruit in summer are shortened by a third. If a similar procedure is carried out annually, they will consistently yield crops. The main thing is not the quantity of fruits, but their quality and longevity of the tree.

Required materials and tools

For the procedure you will need:

• secateurs;
• lopper;
• garden knife;
• small hacksaw;
• sharpening bar;
• twine to support shoots and branches;
• stepladder or ladder;
• means for processing slices.

Garden tools are carefully sharpened and disinfected before work.

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Schemes

Scheme of how to prune an adult apricot in the fall:

1. Remove dry and thin branches growing inside the crown.
2. Shorten too fast growing skeletal branches that are knocked out of the bulk.
3. Remove leafy branches from fruiting shoots so that they do not hide the fruit, interfering with their ventilation and ripening.
4. Cut the trunk to branch if it reaches the required height.

The crown of the apricot must show through - the main thing is not to allow thickening, do not be afraid to remove a few extra branches. It is desirable that the upper tier is accessible from the stairs. It is good if you reach with your hands to any branch.

Pruning instruction

Gardeners use the following apricot pruning methods: sparse tiered, improved tiered, flattened.

Algorithm for performing trimming with a sparse-tiered method:

1. In the first year after planting, remove the tip ¼ of the stem length.
2. Leave a few shoots no more than 30 cm.
3. In the second year, shorten a couple more shoots, keeping a distance of 40 cm between them.
4. In the third year, cut the shoots in half on the central trunk.

As a result of pruning, the tree acquires a well-lit crown, which will allow you to get a high-quality harvest of large fruits.

Features of the procedure, depending on the region

The optimal period for the procedure in the climatic conditions of the regions:

• in the north - in September;
• in the middle lane - from 5 to 15 October;
• in the south - in November.

Cold and rainy autumn weather can weaken the tree, which will negatively affect its wintering. The procedure is carried out only at a temperature not lower than + 8 ° C, otherwise the plant will die.

Read also:

When and how to properly prune raspberries in the fall.

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Caring for the tree after pruning

After pruning, the apricot needs care:

1. Seal the sections immediately with garden varnish or wood paint.
2. Disinfect large cut surfaces with copper sulfate solution.
3. Apply fertilizer to the tree trunk circle for better adaptation and restoration of the tree.

In addition to pruning, do other maintenance procedures: watering, mulching, and protecting against diseases and pests.

Important! On a large cut, the putty can break down before the wound heals. In this case, apply the garden varnish again. By covering the cuts in time, you will protect the tree from disease and destruction.

Conclusion

Pruning in autumn prolongs plant life and increases yields. The optimum temperature for the procedure is above + 8 ° C.If the sections do not tighten before the onset of cold weather, the plant will get sick and die.

Pruning may seem like a daunting task for novice gardeners, but by following the rules and following our advice, you will do it right. The apricot tree will be healthy and will delight you with a rich harvest of sweet fruits.