Pruning Trees

When pruning trees (especially fruit trees) you want to make them more open.  Remove any dead or broken branches.  You also want to remove branches that are rubbing on each other.  Remove branches that are growing into the center of the tree if it will cause it to rub against other branches as it grows.  DO NOT REMOVE MORE THAT TWENTY (20) PERCENT OF YOUR TREE IN ONE YEAR!

There are examples of branches that have been cut off next to the collar. Do not cut off the collar bark. The collar is where the branches meet.  The bark is slightly different at the collar.  If you cut the unwanted branch off at that point the bark will grow over the cut off branch and heal itself.  Notice the different phases of healing.

Here is an example of what not to do and what to do.  Do not leave a piece of the cut off branch sticking out like on the left side of this picture.  It will never heal.  See how the bark is growing over the cut off branch on the right.

 Prune off any branches that are rubbing against other branches.

Prune unwanted branches next to the collar.

This is a new clean cut next to the collar.

Trim off any broken and dead branches.  Trim them off next to the collar not where they broke at.

A branch with a bunch of branches growing downward.  These need to be removed.

The tree is more opened up now.  It was cut next to the collar too.