Apricot trees are widely grown in many parts of the world because of their delicious fruit. Pruning the trees is one way of ensuring that they continue to produce high-quality fruit while also maintaining their overall health. Fruit trees, such as apricot trees, require regular pruning to ensure they are productive. Pruning helps reduce the size to ensure easy picking as well as promoting healthy growth. Here are the steps on how to prune apricot trees.

Step 1: Timing

The timing of pruning apricot trees is crucial. Prune apricot trees when they become dormant, typically between late winter and early spring before they begin to leaf out. This period is also known as the “dormant season”, which usually starts early in the year, as soon as the weather turns cold.

Step 2: Tools Required

Before beginning to prune apricot trees, ensure that you have the right tools for the job. You will need pruning shears or loppers, pruning saws, and a ladder if the tree is tall.

Step 3: Identify the Purpose

The first step in pruning apricot trees is to identify why you are doing it. Most people prune fruit trees to promote air circulation, encourage fruiting, and remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood.

Step 4: Remove Damaged or Diseased Wood

Take a close look at the apricot tree and identify any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. This part of the tree should be removed. Weak and narrow-angled tree branches that grow close to the trunk should be removed as well, as they are prone to breaking, especially when they develop fruit.

Step 5: Cut away Water Sprouts

Water sprouts are shoots that grow from the base of the apricot tree or tree wound. Although they may appear healthy, they do not produce enough fruit and divert nutrients from the main branches of the tree. Cut them as close as possible to the trunk, but avoid removing the branch collar, as it helps the tree to heal effectively.

Step 6: Shorten Main Branches

Apricot trees have main branches that tend to grow in different directions. When pruning, focus on the primary branches, and shorten them at least by a third of their length. This will promote the development of new growth and increased fruit production.

Step 7: Thin Out Branches

Thinning out some of the branches is essential as well. Focus on the overcrowded and crossing branches and remove them, especially those at the base of the tree. Pruning helps to redirect nutrients to the remaining branches.

Step 8: Finish With Flowering Branches

Lastly, concentrate on the flowering branches or twigs. If the flowering branch produced fruit last season, cut it back by about half its length to encourage new growth for future fruit production.

In conclusion, pruning apricot trees is essential to promote overall tree health and increase fruit yields. By pruning regularly, you create a better environment for enhanced air circulation and help reduce the chances of disease and insect infestations. Pruning can also help with tree size control and ensure that the tree is easy to harvest. To ensure that the pruning process goes smoothly, always wear protective gear such as gloves and safety goggles. Remember to sharpen your blades before getting started, and practice caution when using a ladder.

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