Training Mature Fruit Trees

MSU Fruit Team

Michigan State UniversityExtension Educators for Horticultural & Marketing

Tree Fruit Pruning - Renovation

Maintenance pruning

Pruning Bearing Fruit Trees

Upright: generally too vigorous

Hanging: generally shaded, poor quality fruit

upright

hanging

lateral

Rejuvenate? Just enjoy it, and plant the replacement

Neglected apple

Poor quality shaded fruit

overhanging“umbrella”

Remove upright limbs but keep “boss” limbs above the cut point to control regrowth at cut

point

Renovating - spring year 1 -- before

Renovating - spring year 1 -- after

spring year 1,after cuttingKeep upright limbs to control point of

major cut

Spring year 2, before cutting

Goal: remove excess side branches from scaffolds

Spring year 2, after cutting

Neglected apple 1 - before cut

Neglected apple 1 - after cut

Neglected apple #2 - before cut

Neglected apple #2 - after cut

Central leader apple before cut

Central leader apple after cut

Espalier (e spal’ yar)

Candelabra

Espalier - 3 designs

Horizontal Cordon

Candelabra Belgium fence

Heading and bending for espalier system

Building espalier - source “Fine Gardening

Horizontal cordon espalier

Building espalier - source “Fine Gardening

Building espalier continued

- source “Fine Gardening

Free-form espalier