Single digit overnight temperatures and daily wind chills have slowed down the progress of tree pruning. The equipment doesn’t work properly when temperatures are so cold. Not only does the equipment not function well, neither do the operators! Up to this point, however, progress was good.
One way to speed up the pruning process is to just remove entire trees. We have actually done this to several rows of older trees in the orchard. Not really to speed up the pruning process, but to make room for new plantings in 2023. Everything in nature has a life cycle and the trees that were removed were getting to the end of their productivity. After caring for them for over 30 years, it was hard to see them go but new and more popular varieties will be planted in their place. Our plan is total removal of all trees and roots and plant a cover crop. Letting the ground lay fallow for a year will allow it to better accommodate the new plantings
Pruning is as much as an art as a science. Probably the most frequently asked question when we are at the seasonal markets is “how should I prune my backyard fruit tree?” There is really no definite answer to this question except open it up to sunlight and airflow, and NEVER prune a fruit tree like an ornamental tree or a shrub. Fruit trees should not look like a bush. Every tree is different and different circumstances create unique challenges to the person trying to prune it. Pruning is a skill and it takes time to develop that skill. To date we have logged over 190 hours in manual pruning labor and are perhaps fifty percent finished. This year we are training a younger generation in the technique so hopefully we have someone in the wings ready to replace us.
We haven’t attended many post-harvest trade shows but have kept abreast of new tree varieties, fertilization programs, insecticide and herbicides applications through the local extension service and sales representatives. Local extension offices are an excellent “go-to” for questions relative to planting, pruning, fertilization and chemical applications. County offices support back yard gardens and orchards with publications, programs and on site demonstrations. It is always worth making contact with your local extension agent when doing gardening or planting trees.