If the tree is left free, without prune, its crown will grow and develop in irregular way, it will give less fruits and low quality. Pruning is the art of changing the natural order of growth of the tree, with the purpose of increasing their productivity and fruit quality.
Pruning should form stable crown of the tree which in full production can keep all production without breaking the branches.
Pruning of fruit trees based on the time can be realized:
• Summer or (green) and
• Winter.
Summer pruning is realized during the vegetation while winter pruning is performed during the relative calm phase, since the fall of leaves in autumn, until before the opening of buds in spring.
• Pruning is also different in the new trees that are in the forming crown and those that are in regular production.
• The new trees need pruning applied to the minimum extent necessary, while for the trees in the regular production, with the pruning to keep a balance between vegetative growth and fruit-production.
• With increasing age of the trees, appears the need of increasing the intensity or greater elimination of wood mass of the crown.
Formation of the desired angle
Pruning can not be taught without knowing the morphology and physiology of trees and without practically applying them, meaning, the pruning is taught when theoretical knowledge is combined with practical actions.
Summer pruning, of the new trees is implemented with the aim to form the crown, while the trees that are in production with this action is filled the winter pruning. Summer pruning (green) is performed in the second half of June and in July, is the act by which a part the green mass of the crown is eliminated, eliminating the twigs too low, curvature, attenuation of fruit, or rupture of the tip of suckers.
Fig. (the repture of the tip of the little branches) affects slowdown of the growth of (llastar).
To the trees in production, green pruning aims:
• Regular maintenance of certain crown, with good ventilation and sufficient light penetration;
• Regular production;
• High quality fruit (production);
• Lifespan of the fruit tree and
• As little as possible minor injuries to the tree.
Trees with a good formed crown, achieve greater consistency to disease, differentiation (formation) better fruit buds, and better preparation for winter.
Green pruning is performed at the time of intense growth of twigs, but not too early nor too late (June-July). The nuclears are pruned a few days earlier than the seeders.
Early pruning stimulates growth of early intensive twig near eliminated suckers and the late pruning causes late growth of new twig-shoots as well as extension of vegetation and consequently such twigs will not have sufficient growth and as such remain without preparation for hibernation.
Green pruning should include up to approximately 40% of total of the general pruning, to the nuclears something more than the seeders.
Eliminated are all twigs oriented inside the crown and those who are in the vertical direction, in this case the crown earns better ventilation and light penetration because the brances under the shade where there is little intensity of photosynthesis do not form fruit buds.
Sprig consume large amounts of nutrients, those are formed more in skeletal twigs, shade a lot more the crown and do not form fruit buds therefore should be eliminated. After pruning, spraying is preferable with benomil based agents, etc…
Winter Pruning
It is realized during the quiet winter phase of the trees, namely from the fall of leaves in the autumn and by the beginning of fluid movement in the spring. Preferably the nuclear fruit trees should be pruned in late winter during February month, because they are more sensitive to low temperatures.
Before the start of pruning is necessary to take a good look of the fruit tree, to observe all branches, the ratio of twig production and vegetative ones and from the current state depends, the intensity of pruning respectively the wood mass that must be eliminated.
Also from the biggening must determine the shape of the crown and the pruning to fit the desired crown, with formation of the skeletal branches needed, those of the second order, regular forming of the repeater, elimination of sprig etc…
With pruning infected twigs with various cancer disease should be eliminated, those damaged and broken, the crown is kept well ventilated because the possibility of protection from disease and the defector is bigger. Twigs in the shade where there is little intensity of photosynthesis do not form fruit buds. Sprig consume large amounts of nutrients, are formed in skeletal twigs, shade a lot the crown and do not form fruit buds therefore shoulde be eliminated by pruning.
•The trimmer (even the beginner) should consider:
1. To make selection of cultivation form;
2. To make the right selection of skeletal branches and continuers;
3. To eliminate all sprig;
4. To eliminate broken branches, if any;
5. To eliminate infected branches with diseases and carcinogenic wounds;
6. Also the cross branches and twings oriented inside the crown should be eleminated.
Pruning can not be taught without the link theoretical knowledge with practical experience, so theTrimmer must have dedication and proper attention because pruning means not only cutting the branches of the tree and twigs, but is quite complex process from which depends the life expectancy and productivity of the fruit tree. Therefore the pruning should be assigned to persons who possess the will and dedication in fair cultivation of fruit trees, and with pruning to achieve these goals:
• Formation of a certain crown;
• Regular production;
• Quality of the fruit;
• The longevity of the tree, as well as fewer injuries and diseases defector to fruit trees.
Pruning fruit trees is one of the most important agro-technical measures, which aims the desired crown molding, much more rapid introduction of the production, high quality of the fruit and be much more longer and healthier life of trees.
