How Fruit Tree Pruning Gives You Better Fruit in the Hudson Valley

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An arborist from Hill Treekeepers pruning fruit trees in Newburgh, NY.

Have you taken a look at your fruit trees and ended up disappointed in the quality or quantity of fruit you’ve gotten? The simple answer to getting better fruit from your trees may be professional tree pruning. Learn the proper timing, techniques, and goals of fruit tree pruning to set your trees up for a bountiful season ahead.

Key Takeaways:

  • Winter is the optimal time for fruit tree pruning in the Hudson Valley, as dormant pruning offers better visibility, reduces disease risk, and minimizes stress on the tree.
  • Proper pruning enhances fruit production by improving airflow and light penetration throughout the canopy, while removing dead, diseased, or competing branches that could harm the tree.
  • Never remove more than 25% of a tree’s live branches in a single pruning session, as over-pruning forces the tree to waste energy on new growth rather than fruit production.
  • Improper pruning techniques, such as cutting too close to the trunk or using dull tools, can create entry points for diseases and pests that may severely damage or kill your fruit trees.

 

Ripe apples growing on a tree in Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY.

When Is the Best Time to Prune Fruit Trees?

When to prune fruit trees is just as important as how to do it correctly. In general, we recommend pruning a fruit tree in the winter until the early spring, before the tree begins to blossom. Some of the benefits of professional fruit tree pruning in winter include:

  • Better Visibility: We can more easily see the structure of the tree without any leaves in the way, making it easier to quickly identify which branches to remove for better fruiting.
  • No Risk of Diseases: Insects and diseases are not a factor during the winter, meaning we can safely prune without having to worry about the wound acting as an entry point for an infection.
  • Reduce Tree Stress: Pruning while a tree is dormant prevents it from stimulating new growth in response to the cuts. This helps the tree conserve energy and recover more efficiently, minimizing overall stress and supporting healthier development.

PRO TIP: Pruning fruit trees is just one of the many things you should do for your Hudson Valley trees in the winter. Check out our winter tree care checklist to learn more about how to keep your trees healthy this season.

How Often You Should Prune a Fruit Tree

In general, it’s best to prune smaller amounts more frequently rather than tackling it all at once. While we recommend pruning only when necessary, it can be difficult to know exactly when a tree needs pruning if you’re not an arborist.

For young fruit trees, you may want to have a professional prune them annually to guide their growth. For mature fruit trees, you can likely cut back your pruning to once every two or three years.

What Happens If You Prune Your Fruit Trees at the Wrong Time?

Pruning your fruit trees at the wrong time or taking off too much at a time can have disastrous consequences. Some drawbacks of fruit tree pruning outside of the winter or early spring include:

  • Late Spring Pruning: Removing too many branches in the spring will cause the tree to produce excess sap and reduce fruiting.
  • Summer Pruning: In the summer, your tree uses its leaves for photosynthesis to grow and produce fruit. Over-pruning can reduce the tree’s ability to photosynthesize by removing too many branches, forcing it to divert energy into producing new growth to compensate. Summer pruning can also leave your fruit trees vulnerable to diseases. However, we recommend removing water sprouts in the summer.
  • Fall Pruning: Fall pruning will encourage weak growth that won’t survive the brutal winter in the Hudson Valley. Limit any fall pruning to removing dead or diseased branches.

 

An orchard the team at Hill Treekeepers pruned in Saugerties, NY.

Why We Prune Fruit Trees in the Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley is a popular place to grow fruit trees. Whether you have apples, pears, plums, or other fruit trees, you need to have a goal in mind when you prune to ensure you don’t harm the tree. Some typical reasons we prune fruit trees include:

Remove Dead or Dying Branches

Dead branches have no benefit for your trees, as they won’t produce fruit or leaves. They also could break off during severe weather, damaging other branches or your fruit. Removing branches that pose a risk will increase safety and give you a better-looking fruit tree.

Train a Young Tree to Grow Properly

Young trees are like puppies – proper training when both are young is the key.

Pruning is key to helping young trees grow in the right direction. A professional can shape the branches to build a strong framework, making sure the tree can handle the weight of its fruit as it matures.

Taking the time to prune young trees properly now can save you the hassle and expense of dealing with structural problems in a few years.

Remove Competing Branches (Crossing, Rubbing, or Crowded branches)

Branches in trees with crowded canopies will often compete against each other for space. These branches may end up rubbing against each other and damage the bark. The resulting wound can stress the tree and create an entry point for insects and diseases, potentially leading to branch damage or even tree decline.

Increase Airflow and Light Penetration in the Canopy

You may think that more branches mean more fruit, but in reality, this isn’t always the case. The crowded canopy can harm your fruit in two ways:

  • Restricted Airflow: The wind blowing through your trees allows it to dry after a rainstorm or from the morning dew. If the wind can’t reach the lower portions of the tree, they will end up wet and humid. This is an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow on your fruit and ruin it.
  • Low Light Penetration: Light will help dry out the lower sections of the canopy, and allowing it to hit the fruit will give better-looking and tasting fruit.

Clearing out unnecessary branches from your tree gives you better fruit and a healthier tree.

Reduce the Size of the Tree

What good is the fruit on your tree if you can’t reach it? While you may want a stately oak tree or an eye-catching maple tree to grow tall for shade and aesthetics, this isn’t normally the desire with fruit trees. When a fruit tree gets too big, you won’t be able to access the fruit easily from the ground or with an orchard ladder.

Pruning reduces the size of the tree and makes it easier to access your fruit when it’s ripe.

Reduce the Growth of Water Sprouts

Water sprouts are small branches that mostly grow upward as a response to pruning. Growing water sprouts uses your tree’s energy and can block sunlight from reaching your fruit. Remove them when you see them, and always prune trees in the proper season to avoid them growing in the first place.

Improper Pruning Will Leave You with Poor Fruit

If you don’t have the right equipment or training, it’s easy for your attempts at DIY fruit tree pruning to do more harm than good. Some of the common mistakes we see in the Hudson Valley include:

  • Pruning the Wrong Branches: Different fruit trees grow their fruit on old wood or new wood. Old wood consists of branches from previous seasons, while new wood grows during the current season. Cutting at the wrong place or the wrong branches can remove the fruit buds before they even have a chance to grow.
  • Pruning Too Much at One Time: No matter what kind of tree you have, pruning should always be light and only remove what is necessary. Aim to remove around 10 to 15 percent of your tree’s branches at a time and never more than 25 percent. Over-pruning will leave your tree without the necessary leaves for photosynthesis and likely kill it.
  • Using the Wrong Tools: The wrong tools can damage the branch and lead to poor wound closure. An open wound is an entry point for insects or diseases that could kill your trees. Pruning tools should be razor sharp and be an appropriate size for the job.
  • Making Improper Cuts: Fruit tree pruning is a science that requires precise cuts. Arborists spend years training to ensure they always make the correct type of cuts in the appropriate place. A common problem with DIY pruning is homeowners cutting too close to the trunk and tearing off bark. Making poor cuts will cause stress and could expose your tree to attacks from insects and diseases.

 

The Hill Treekeepers Truck in a snowy yard during fruit tree pruning in Gardiner, NY.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fruit Tree Pruning

Everyone in the Hudson Valley wants the best-looking and tasting fruit, so we often field questions from our clients about fruit tree care. Some of the common questions we hear include:

Do I need to apply wound dressing after pruning?

No, you do not need to apply a wound dressing after pruning a tree. Trees will naturally seal wounds, and using a wound dressing can actually slow down the healing process, not aid it.

Do you need special tools to prune a fruit tree?

Yes, pruning fruit trees requires specialized tools like loppers and pole saws. Using improper tools, such as woodworking saws, can result in uneven cuts that hinder the tree’s ability to heal properly and may leave it vulnerable to disease or pests. Investing in the right tools ensures clean, precise cuts and promotes healthy growth.

Can a professional save an overgrown fruit tree?

Yes, it is possible to save an overgrown fruit tree through professional pruning. Renovation pruning will likely take a few seasons, as trying to do it all at once can kill your tree.

How do I prune while avoiding spreading diseases?

Pruning during the winter will prevent the spread of diseases. If you prune during the growing season, sterilize your tools after working on each tree to prevent the spread of diseases from one tree to another.

PRO TIP: Want to learn more about fruit trees in the Hudson Valley? Read our previous articles:

Hill Treekeepers Can Prune Your Fruit Trees

Whether you are a hobbyist with a few fruit trees in your yard or have a large orchard, everybody wants better fruit in their trees. Pruning is one of the most effective ways to improve fruit production, but only if someone does it right.

At Hill Treekeepers, we have years of experience pruning fruit trees and caring for orchards. With tools like our bucket truck, we can easily reach the higher branches to ensure your trees are pruned the right way for healthier growth and better fruit. If you’re ready to see the difference next season, call us at 914-214-7045 or request a quote online.

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Chad Turner

Chad Turner

Chad, a TCIA, ISA, and NYSA member, brings diverse experience to his role as Arborist and Sales Representative. With a degree in Landscape Design and Ornamental Horticulture from the State University of New York at Cobleskill, he emphasizes the importance of soil and root health in his work. Chad's industry insights, including alerting to the spruce gall midge in New York, have left an indelible mark, with his landscapes featured in various publications.

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