How to properly prune a peach in the fall and why it is needed
To get a good harvest of peaches, you will have to work hard - this is a very capricious crop. Crown pruning is one of the important procedures for caring for this plant. Read about why peach pruning is done in the fall and how to do it correctly in the article.
Why prune a peach in the fall, what does it give?
Any plant, including the peach tree, gets its nutrients from the soil. They pass through the trunk and are distributed among the branches. The peculiarity of the peach is that this process takes place faster in it than in other plants.
If you ignore pruning, the crown will become too thick and the branches located in the center will no longer receive enough sunlight and nutrients.
Important! Pruning increases the plant's yield and extends its life.
If you do not carry out this procedure, the tree will look sloppy, the branches will grow chaotically, and harvesting from such a tree will be much more difficult.
Optimal timing of the procedure
Pruning is stressful for every plant. Pruning in the spring will cause a significant reduction in yield for the current season. But even at this time it has its own significance: it is aimed at forming the correct crown of the tree, which will provide access to sunlight to all branches and make it easier for the gardener to harvest in the future.
Autumn pruning is considered safer.The vegetative processes of the plant slow down significantly - it prepares for the cold, so the tree can more easily withstand injury. In the autumn, they shorten and reduce the number of fruiting branches. The main task of autumn pruning is to prepare the plant for wintering.
Reference. The optimal time for autumn pruning is after harvest and before October 15. Spring pruning is carried out from mid-March to April 20.
Types of pruning
Depending on the purpose, there are several types of pruning.
Shaping is aimed at giving the tree crown the correct shape.
Rejuvenation is carried out in the autumn; it involves cleaning old branches that compete with young ones for nutrients.
Sanitation involves cleaning dry, lifeless branches to protect the plant from fungus and pests.
How to properly trim a peach
If you follow the rules and use high-quality equipment, pruning is an absolutely safe procedure for peach.
Required materials and tools
To carry out pruning you will need pruning shears, a garden saw, a lopper, and a garden knife.
Important! All tools must be well sharpened and immediately before work they are treated with an antiseptic.
Trimming scheme
Pruning is performed annually according to the following scheme.
1 year
Reduce the height of the one-year-old seedling to 50 cm. There should be 2 large branches or developed buds on the remaining part of the tree. They are tied to thin slats so that they are located at an angle of 45° to the trunk. From the remaining lateral branches, one upper bud is cut off.
2 years
It is considered ideal if the next year these side shoots grow by 50 cm. If this does not happen, then the central shoot is cut to the place where these branches extend from the main trunk.
If the length of the branches is less than 40 cm, then they are cut off to the last growth or triple bud, which is as far as possible from the trunk. On these branches, 2 developed shoots are selected and tied to the same rail. The remaining shoots are cut back to the leaf closest to the main shoot.
3 years
Next fall, all large branches are shortened by about a third. Then, 3 shoots are selected from them and all growth buds directed downwards are removed. These branches are tied to a rail, and the rest are cut to the first leaf.
4 years
If the pruning was done correctly, the tree will please the gardener with a good harvest in the fourth year. More often peaches are being planted near the walls. All shoots directed perpendicular to the wall are removed, with the exception of those on which flowers appear in the fall - at least 2 leaves are left on them.
Step-by-step pruning instructions
Pruning includes several stages:
- Sanitation. Remove all shoots and branches that have defects and damage.
- Shortening shoots. All shoots of the tree are pruned - those that make up the frame and those that bear fruit.
- Pruning vulnerable branches. The structure of the tree is assessed and fragile and vulnerable branches are completely removed.
Tree formation
It is recommended to strive to form the peach crown in the form of a bush - this is due to the peculiarities of the movement of nutrients through the tree. In addition, this shape contributes to the uniform distribution of sunlight across all branches.
Optimal tree parameters:
- lower tier – 20 cm;
- standard – 50-60 cm;
- between the bases – 3-4 skeletal branches;
- on each branch - 2 semi-skeletal branches of the second order at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other;
- above the first tier - a second tier of semi-skeletal branches, up to 5 pcs.
Features of pruning young and old trees
The procedure has its own characteristics for trees of different ages.
young tree
All manipulations are done carefully. Excessive removal of branches can destroy the plant.
Rules:
- The main shoot is pinched if there are young shoots on the seedlings;
- when planting a tree, only 3-4 shoots pointing downwards are left, all the rest are removed;
- branches located in the center are cut as short as possible in the third year.
Old tree
The specifics of pruning an old peach depend on how carefully the owner cared for it. If the tree has not received enough attention, you will have to remove not only small, but also large branches, and sometimes even parts of the tree. However, even an old tree can be brought back to life with pruning.
Processing of sections and further care
Since the procedure is very traumatic, they pay attention to the correct pruning technique and provide the tree with further care.
The cut areas are treated with garden varnish so that infection does not get there and they heal faster. The sections are processed one day after the procedure.
Further care consists of ensuring regular hydration, fertilizing and preventing parasite invasion.
After autumn pruning, winter watering is carried out: it increases the winter hardiness of the tree. Water consumption: 90-100 l per 1 m² of tree trunk circle.
Caring for peach involves adding fertilizers to the soil, the quality and composition of which depends on the characteristics of the soil.Poor soil is fertilized every year, but fertile soil needs to be fertilized once every 2-3 years. In autumn, 40 g of superphosphate and 50 g of calcium chloride per 1 m² are added to the soil. Once every 2-3 years, the plant is fed with organic fertilizers: humus or compost.
In order to prevent the fight against parasites (aphids, fruit moths, codling moths) and fungi, the peach tree is treated with a 7% urea solution or a 1% copper sulfate solution before wintering.
The nuances of pruning by region
Features of pruning depend on the regions in which the plant is grown.
Crimea, Kuban
In the warmest regions, early varieties of peaches are common. They are pruned in March. The crown is given a cup-shaped shape, ensuring uniform illumination of all branches. Fruit branches are shortened, stimulating the emergence of new shoots.
Central Russia
In regions with a temperate climate, the procedure is carried out in late March - early April. They are formed in the form of a bush with developed lower shoots, which are removed after fruiting.
Northern regions
In areas with cold climates, seedlings are planted at an angle of 45°. They create a trunk with two large branches that bear fruit alternately and cover it for the winter. Everything else is cut off.
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Conclusion
Pruning a peach tree is a mandatory procedure for the plant. Depending on the purpose, it can be of different types: sanitary, rejuvenating, forming the crown of a tree. A correctly carried out procedure increases the yield and lifespan of peach.