Winter Fruit Tree Care
By Polly Nelson UCCE Master Gardener
How confident are you when it comes to planting and pruning fruit trees?
Whether you need a refresher or if you're new to this topic, we have a workshop for you. On January 13, 2024, from 10 am - 12 pm, the UC Master Gardener Program will offer practical advice on selecting fruit trees, proper planting, and pruning.
Purchasing a new fruit tree is exciting, but often leads to more questions. Do you know which type of fruit trees will grow well in your yard? Knowing the chill hours required for different trees will help you determine which tree to choose.
When and how does your fruit tree need to be pruned?
Many people are squeamish about pruning trees, fearing making mistakes and hurting the tree. Knowing why the tree needs to be pruned helps to take the guess work out of this necessary task. Most trees need regular pruning and pruning offers many benefits. Pruning trains young trees to develop a strong limb structure. As trees age, pruning helps to maintain a manageable size to making them easier to maintain. Proper pruning also improves penetration of sunlight in the center of the tree, eliminates dead or diseased branches, and improves fruit production.
Knowing when to prune is just as important. December to mid-February is the recommended time frame, with January being a good target. Fruit trees are best pruned while dormant. If not pruned, suckers will grow, and direct energy away from the fruit-bearing branches, thereby decreasing fruit production. An exception to this is the apricot tree. Pruning in the fall, ahead of winter rains, is recommended to prevent infection from entering cut wounds.
The next step is knowing how to prune. Heading cuts and thinning cuts are two basic types of cuts. Heading cuts increase lateral branch formation, and thinning cuts remove unwanted lateral branches or shorten them.
Attend the January workshop and get these and other fruit tree questions answered. Trained UC Master Gardner volunteers will also demonstrate how to make different types of pruning cuts.
Make a plan to attend this Advice to Grow By workshop. We'll be there rain or shine. Bring your questions and join us for an informative, lively program.
Advice to Grow By Workshops
Our next San Luis Obispo Advice to Grow By Workshop will be January 13th, 2024. For January only, the ATGB will be on the 2nd Saturday of the month. The subject will be “Fruit Trees-How Winter Care Can Aid Warm Weather Success”. Check our website for more information.
Our next north county Advice to Grow By Workshop will be on February 10th, 2024. The subject will be “Success with planting annuals & perennials in north county”. It will be located at Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Dr. Paso Robles. Check our website for more information.
You can view workshops on Instagram live at slo mg or visit our You Tube channel at “San Luis Obispo County UC Master Gardeners.”
Visit our website at ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo/ or email questions to anrmgslo@ucanr.edu.
UCCE Master Gardener Helpline offices:
San Luis Obispo: 805-781-5939 (Monday and Thursday 1:00 to 5:00)
Arroyo Grande: 805-473-7190 (Wednesday 10:00 to 12:00)
Templeton: 805-434-4105 (Wednesday 9:00 to 12:00)