Pruning & Training

Pruning is an essential, although expensive, procedure in stone fruit orchards. In order to optimize this practice, we have conducted many research projects over the past 30 years and have come to two main conclusions.
First, trees should be minimally pruned in the first couple of years. Many growers prune young trees very hard, which only reduces early yield. We have found greatly increased yields, with no detrimental effects, by minimal pruning.
Second, we have extensively evaluated the concept of reducing tree height. This greatly cuts down on labor costs, often improves fruit quality and can maintain high yields if the trees are managed properly. Proper management includes maintaining high light interception by spreading scaffolds more and/or planting trees closer together. It also includes careful management of vigor through irrigation, fertilization and pruning practices. These techniques work best when applied to orchards from planting but can also apply to mature trees. To the right are links to reports on these new concepts. Below are links to standard pruning procedures for open vase trees.

Pruning pictures - click on photo to enlarge

Hard pruning of 1-year-old (foreground) and 2-year-old (middle) peach trees with mature trees blooming in the background

Nectarine trees trained to be short and more spreading (left) compared to typical tall and upright trees (right)

Additional Reading

New concepts
1997 Minimal Pruning of Young Trees
2001 Pruning Ideas
2002 Experiment on Reducing Tree Height
2004 Reduced Height Orchard Summary
2010 Developing Pedestrian Orchard Systems
Timing of Topping
2011 CTFA research report - Pedestrian Orchard final

Links to bulletins and videos on standard open vase pruning practices
Stone Fruit Manual -Training and Pruning
UC Bulletin - Pruning Fruit and Nut Trees
Stanislaus Orchard Handbook - Pruning Chapter
University of Massachusetts Pruning Video