Each plant has its own growth cycle: activities, vegetative, flowering and the production of fruits, fall of leaves… All is done according to the slow pace and the natural seasons of the year. Within this cycle theintervention of man must be compared, in order not to compromise the health of the plant and does not affect the quality of the fruits that will produce.

Among the interventions necessary to the proper care of the orchard, the pruning it is considered one of the most invasive, which is why it must be performed by following a series of small details related to the timing and climate. This begs the question: when do it to cause the least possible damage to the trees?

In this article we will discover when to prune fruit trees, and the factors to keep in mind to choose the optimal time and fit in their life cycle without causing trauma to the plant or its fruits.

How to choose the most suitable to the pruning

In the choice of the timing of pruning there are mainly two aspects to consider.

• The climate (temperature and humidity). When you cut the branches to create one-of wounds: in order to be healed, it is necessary to prevent the plant is subject to weather conditions too harsh, such as winter frost or heavy rains at the beginning of autumn.
• The growth cycle of the plant. To have a clear vision of the structure of the plant must wait until the leaves have fallen. For the same reason, it can also be useful to see the gems, in order to understand how to evolve the tree in the following months.

At our latitudes, the periods are more suitable for pruning are between the end of autumn and beginning of winter or between February and march, when the trees are still without leaves, but the branches begin to appear the first buds. This applies to the main fruit trees, such as pome fruit (apple, pear,…), the stone fruit (cherry, peach, apricot…) and other varieties such as olive, fig and pomegranate.

What are the factors to keep in consideration to prune fruit trees

• The plants just pruned do not have to face very cold periods: the ideal months may, therefore, vary according to the climate of the area, for example, at latitudes winters are very hard, is not recommended pruning in autumn, while in warmer climates can also be run at the end of January.
• The branches just cut are like open wounds: it is better not to prune when the weather is too wet, or when they were expected heavy rains in the next few days.
• The branches dry or damaged must be removed immediately, regardless of the period, because they constitute a risk factor for the plant. For branches damaged are both broken after a violent storm or a whirlwind, both those suffering from conditions so as to avoid that the disease will spread to the whole plant.

The optimal time based on the type of pruning

The pruning of it is the most important fruit trees because it allows you to maintain an orderly plan and control the production; it should be carried out once a year, in the spring, but some species are more delicate or slower growth can be done every two years.

The pruning consists of cutting off the branches that are not productive in order to prevent the plant from wasting energy to make them grow; takes place between the late spring and summer, when, in fact, the plant is lush and full of leaves.

The pruning of breeding you practice on young plants with the aim of addressing the tree to the desired shape; the best time is the same as for pruning.

Other useful information for your fruit garden:

lawn Mowers, to the orchard, and we recommend the best equipment for

working The land for the orchard: the major phases of the

Conclusions

to Understand when to prune fruit trees is of paramount importance to the health of the plant and its fruit. The optimal period will vary depending on many factors first of all, the climate and the status of the plant, but also the type of pruning to do.

BFM, an Italian company that produces agricultural machinery professional for the care of orchards and vineyards, can offer you the best equipment to prune fruit trees in a fast and safe way, respecting the plant and the people who care.

Contact us for a consultation with no obligation: our experts are ready to assist you and advise you according to your specific needs.