I'm a learning gardener (I always will be a learning gardener but I'm only a few years into my journey).
The peach tree in the image was planted two years ago as a bare-root tree from StarkBros.
I know I need to do some pruning. From my understanding the narrow V between these two upwards shoots is going to be a problem in the future (a weak spot for splitting and disease, right?).
This tree and another peach tree are my big successes so far in dabbling with fruit trees, so I just want to ask some people who know more than I do to confirm I should indeed be pruning off one of the two sides of the V pictured.
I also believe I understand I should wait to make this cut until the buds start to open so it can heal over more quickly, correct?
Thanks a bunch!
Peach-Tree.JPG
I need to prune off one of these upwards shoots, don't I?
Greg Myers
Posts: 19
Location: Michigan, Zone 6a, Clay soil, 0.5 acre suburban yard with downwards-sloped hill to a wetland border.
i would trim both limbs back about 1/3 from tips. Then I would probably put a stick or something between them to allow them to grow apart a little. On peaches you want to finish with a vase shaped, open centered tree.
That's how we do them around here in south Ga. Looks like there growing nicely.
Greg Myers
Posts: 19
Location: Michigan, Zone 6a, Clay soil, 0.5 acre suburban yard with downwards-sloped hill to a wetland border.
Ralph Sluder wrote: i would trim both limbs back about 1/3 from tips. Then I would probably put a stick or something between them to allow them to grow apart a little. On peaches you want to finish with a vase shaped, open centered tree.
That's how we do them around here in south Ga. Looks like there growing nicely.
Thank you so much Ralph--I really appreciate the input. Without you I would have likely chopped off an entire one of those leads!
Greg, check out the book "Grow a Little Fruit Tree." It really opened my eyes to a lot of great pruning strategies.
Also, I've gotten some great material from my local coop extension on particular pruning strategies for local fruit trees - you'll want a different approach with peach, with apple, with mulberry, etc., etc.
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