Winter pruning - a step by step guide to winter pruning apple and pear trees, by PTESwildlifevideos on YouTube. 2 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes per tree
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a dry, mild day between leaf fall and bud break, ideally in midwinter when the tree is fully dormant. Avoid frosty or wet weather so the cuts stay clean.
Clean your secateurs, loppers and saw with a disinfectant wipe, then sharpen the blades. Sharp tools make clean cuts that heal faster than crushed ones.
Step back and look at the whole tree. Cut out dead, diseased and damaged wood first, plus any branches that rub or cross each other.
Remove suckers growing from the base and strong shoots growing straight up from the branches. These take energy the fruit needs.
Keep the centre of the tree open. Aim for five to eight main branches spreading outwards like a goblet so light reaches every part.
Shorten last year's growth on the main branches by about a third to a half, cutting to a healthy bud that faces outwards.
Make each cut just above a bud or a branch collar, slanting away from the bud. Do not leave long stubs, which die back and let rot in.
Clear the prunings from under the tree and mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk. Check ties and stakes on young trees.
Tips and common mistakes
Never remove more than about a quarter of the canopy in one winter, or the tree will push out lots of weak growth.
Wipe your blades between trees if you have had disease such as canker, so you do not spread it.
Use a stable ladder and keep both feet on it when reaching high branches rather than stretching or balancing.
Leave young trees alone apart from shaping the first few branches, and let them settle for two or three years.
Questions
When is the best time to winter prune an apple tree?
Any time from leaf fall to bud break while the tree is dormant. Midwinter is ideal, but avoid frosty days when the wood is brittle.
Can I prune apple trees in summer instead?
You can shorten long shoots in late summer to slow growth, but the main structural pruning is done in winter when you can see the branch shape.
Do pear trees need the same treatment?
Yes, pears are pruned the same way as apples. They tend to grow more upright, so be extra careful to keep the centre open.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
