The subtleties of the process of pruning peaches in the fall

Peach trees are found in household plots much less frequently than apple or pear trees. But they require care no less, and sometimes even more, than other fruit trees. Among the various tree care procedures, peach pruning in the fall is considered an important point. When carrying out this procedure, one must not forget that fruits are formed only on last year's branches.

If the tree is not pruned in time, then its yield will decline every year. Peach pruning is carried out in order to ensure its harmonious growth and development, to maximize the yield and get tasty fruits. For this purpose, in September-October, peach pruning is carried out, with the help of which the number of fruiting branches is regulated.

The main purpose of pruning at this time of year is to increase the yield in the future and prepare the peach for frost. All old, frail and pest-affected branches must be removed.

Crown formation is also an important task in autumn peach pruning.... But if you are pruning in the fall, this does not mean that you do not need to prune the tree in the spring. Pruning in the fall should not be a complete replacement. Both procedures are very important for the fruit tree.

A positive factor in pruning in the fall is relative safety. Closer to winter, all natural processes taking place inside the tree slow down. Pruning is a kind of trauma for any plant, and the peach is no exception.

If the autumn pruning of the tree is not carried out, then the varietal characteristics deteriorate, the fruits become smaller. After a few years, an unnecessarily overloaded tree is depleted, it can get sick. Or almost completely stop fruiting.

The peach should be trimmed after full harvest. Then he will have time to "move away" before the onset of cold weather. Autumn pruning will also get rid of many pests, depriving them of the possibility of wintering in the crown.

You need to trim the peach while it is still warm outside.... Most often, peaches are grown in the south of our country. Winter starts there later. Therefore, you can cut the tree for the winter before the onset of cold weather. Autumn pruning of peaches can be carried out in the Crimea, in the Kuban, in the Krasnodar Territory until about mid-October. The temperature at night should not drop below 5-6 C.

In other regions of Russia, only sanitary pruning of peaches is carried out in autumn. Peach pruning is prohibited in winter.

The first autumn pruning can be carried out in the year of planting a seedling in a permanent place. To do this, shorten the top a little. Shoots are reduced in length, by about a third. If the growth of the tree is less than 30 cm per year, pruning is not carried out.

A two-year-old seedling is pruned in the same way as in the first year. The main goal is the correct formation of the crown... This procedure will help you get a bountiful harvest in the future.

In the 3rd year, the peach is already beginning to bear fruit. From this time on, it is necessary to ensure that the crown does not grow too densely. It is necessary to remove old and diseased branches. If the increase in the length of the new branches is more than half a meter, then they are removed.

In order to prune a peach, you need a variety of tools, usually experienced gardeners already have them. If they are not there, then you can buy it at any specialized store.Before pruning, all tools must be disinfected to avoid the spread of diseases of fruit trees. To do this, they can be dipped in a solution of potassium manganese or any other disinfectant for half an hour.

The gardener will need the following.

• Secateurs... It is necessary for pruning branches in the center. Suitable for branches with a diameter of 2-2.5 cm.
• Garden saw. Thick branches can be trimmed.
• Lopper... It can be used to cut branches up to 5-6 cm in diameter.
• Garden knife.
• Wood scissors... With these scissors, you can cut off several thin branches at once. They are convenient to use if the crown is thick.

Peach shaping is carried out in order to ensure a bountiful harvest and improve the quality of the fruit. It is necessary to form a powerful crown. Carrying out the formation of the crown of a peach tree in accordance with the recommendations of specialists, you can get a good harvest of peaches of excellent presentation and good taste.

In the southern regions, they carry out standard formation, and in others - bush. There are a low-stem crown (50-60 cm of a stem), a bush (from 30 to 40 cm), and also without a stem, when the branches extend practically from the root collar.

This formation is used in countries and regions located in the subtropical zone. The cup-shaped crown is characterized by the absence of a central conductor, only one tier is created, consisting of 3 or 4 branches. Such peaches are undersized. All branches are almost equally illuminated by the sun. The fruits are rosy and sweet.

Peach trees in nurseries usually have a cupped crown. It is recommended to leave a stem with a height of 60 to 70 cm.When the shoot that has developed on the rootstock reaches a height of a little less than half a meter (40-45 cm), then from the side branches you need to choose the most developed, evenly spaced (from 3 to 6 pieces).

In the spring, in annual seedlings, shoots are carefully cut into 3 buds (4 can be used). After another year or two, 3-4 main branches are chosen that grow around the trunk. After pruning, they produce 6-8 new fork-shaped branches.

There is also an improved cupped crown. It differs in that the branches are located close to each other, at a distance of 10-20 cm. Such a crown is more powerful. It is less susceptible to wind breakage. What is important if the peach grows in an open area or in the region with frequent and strong winds.

To form an improved cupped crown, 3-4 main branches are left, evenly spaced on the trunk. After that, pinch the shoots, remove the conductor.

This crown shape consists of 3 or 4 main trunks extending from the lowest part of the plant. When shaping is carried out, the central conductor is not isolated. Bush pruning, like cup-shaped pruning, contributes to good illumination of branches and fruits, increases productivity, increases the frost resistance of the tree, and it becomes easier to care for it.

When annual seedlings are transplanted, 3-4 main shoots are left, located at the bottom. The guide and all other shoots must be removed. The branches that have grown over the course of the year are cut into 3-4 buds.

In the next season, the main shoots are cut by about a third. A year later, 6-8 branches are formed from them, which will actively bear fruit. Shoots that are in the central part of the bush are cut short. This is done to provide better illumination.

Thus, the bush form of the crown is fully formed by the fall of the third year. Further, fruit branches are formed on the tree. If the branches grow horizontally, they are pruned.

Pruning the columnar shape of the peach is fairly straightforward. Any old or diseased branches must be removed. The growth is removed to a length of about 15-20 cm. This allows you to preserve decorativeness.

This is the same bushy crown shape. It is necessary so that the peach can survive the winter more easily. Most often, such a crown is formed when growing peaches in the middle lane.

There are several types of fruit tree pruning. How to properly prune a peach can be seen in the diagram. Depending on the method of the procedure, the following techniques are distinguished.

• Pinching... This is the most gentle method. Applied for planting.
• Weak pruning. Carried out on a 2-4-year-old seedling. Pruning is carried out by about a quarter. Suitable for young peach.
• Medium cut, one third of the length of the branches. It is carried out on trees that have reached the age of five.
• Strong... A tree pruning is carried out, in which up to half of the tree branches are removed. Usually, such pruning is carried out if the tree is severely affected by diseases or it needs to be rejuvenated.

Depending on the type of trim used, the following techniques can be distinguished.

• The kidney. Remove a specific part of the branch.
• On a mote. Remove the excess shoot on the main branch.
• On the ring... All branches are completely removed to the base. The cut is obtained in the form of a ring.
• Kerbovka... Incisions are made near the kidneys, which must be trimmed.

The following types of trimming are distinguished.

Usually, household pruning is carried out along with contour and anti-aging. All dry and damaged branches are removed during this procedure.

To rejuvenate the peach tree, pruning is done every 5 years. It is during this period of time that the yield decreases noticeably. And rejuvenating pruning stimulates the plant. New branches begin to form.

To carry out anti-aging pruning, young shoots that have formed on old branches are left at the pruning level. The main branches are cut to about the length that was 3 years ago. This will serve as the basis for the growth of the crown for the next year.

Periodically, the branches of the crown are cut, adjusting their volume.

This type of pruning is carried out to thin out the upper part of the crown. In the lower part of the crown, the branches are slightly shortened.

With this pruning, more than half of the old branches are removed. They also carry out strong thinning of branches in the crown.

Regenerative pruning needs to be done to restore branches that have suffered from winter cold and frost. For beginners, it may seem like pruning a peach is a very difficult task. However, by understanding how the peach grows, the whole procedure will become easier and easier.