When is it time to prune?

[Lacey]

How do you know when the best time to prune your fruit trees is? I have four apple trees that need some maintenance and I am wondering if you wait until the last moment before they come out of dormancy for the spring or do you do it now while they are still dormant?

 

[claudine]

I was told that the best time to prune apple trees is when they're dormant. My parents prune our tree in January. It always produces a lot of fruits

 

[firelily99]

Generally pruning is best done when the tree is dormant. Its better for the tree and its easier to cut through the limbs. I usually do my pruning in the fall after a frost or two, once the leaves are down I'm at it. I haven't killed a tree yet doing it that way.

 

[gata montes]

Although most fruit trees or any type of tree for that matter are best pruned when the trees are dormant.

The best time to prune a fruit tree - is considered to be during the late dormant stage - just before it begins active growth again - which is normally around late winter to early spring - which is also the time when I do all of mine

 

[headfullofbees]

If you prune certain fruit trees in winter, you are asking for trouble:
e.g. plum trees should be pruned in June.
Some other trees fruit better if you prune them immediately after fruiting, & sweet cherry trees should be pruned in August to minimize the chance of bacterial canker

 

[gata montes]

done it again - so thank you headfullofbees - as I must have been half asleep or having another one of those mental blocks - because for some reason or another - when responding my mind was solely focused on apple trees and being the owner of a large number of what are called " stone fruit " trees - realized that you are totally correct and in fact - it is actually recommended for all trees that bear stone fruits - to do the heavy pruning directly after fruiting - in order to minimize the chances of bacterial canker - to which they are all very prone to.