Articles
Best Garden Maintenance Job you can do in January 2019
by Thomas Cramphon Professional GardenerIt's the time for hard winter which is really bad for the plants and trees. The best garden maintenance job you can do at this time of the year is pruning the trees, especially the fruit trees.
When
talking about fruit trees, the ideal fruit trees for Londoners is
apricots and figs. Cherries are great and have pretty blossom.
Pruning Trees in winter
Winter
pruning can be done for Apple and pear trees. The first ones to prune
are apple trees. Actually, you don't need to prune apple trees. But, to
keep them in a manageable size (i.e., to easily pluck the fruits), and
to maintain its health and make it fruit producing, it's advisable to
cut short some of its branches very lightly.
Pruning
in this way every year can easily keep the tree to a manageable size
and get fruits every year. Winter pruning is best carried out when the
tree is dormant between leaf fall and bud burst (usually between
November and early March). You can also lightly prune in late summer to
reduce new growth and encourage fruit buds to develop.
How is pruning done?
At
first, a structural pruning can be done to maintain the shape and size
of the tree and to keep a good balance of older branches that form the
main framework, and new fruiting wood.
Start
by removing crossing, rubbing, weak, dead, and diseased, damaged and
dying branches. To do the pruning effectively, always use sharp
secateurs, loppers and a pruning saw. If it requires expert help, call
on London Garden Services.
How pruning helps trees?
The
aim is to produce a tree that has an open centre to increase air
circulation and reduce fungal diseases, with a framework of evenly
spaced branches that will produce blossom and fruit every year.
What are the things to avoid in pruning?
- Don’t prune off too much as that will result in vigorous growth and fewer or no fruits.
- Carefully prune to thin out crowded branches and any thin twiggy branches in the centre of the tree.
- Prune a little, stand back to look at the shape and balance before pruning out any more – and don’t rush!
Things to Take Note
When pruning your apple trees in the winter you may notice signs of apple canker on the stems.
Lichens and other growths are also noticeable in winter; these are not damaging to the tree but can indicate low vigour.
Trees can suffer cold damage in winter and spring, which may affect fruit production.
Be aware of the biennial bearing where a year of bumper cropping is followed by a year of poor cropping.
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About Thomas Cramphon 
Professional Gardener
9 connections, 0 recommendations, 46 honor points.Joined APSense since, November 27th, 2014, From London, United Kingdom.
Created on Jan 18th 2019 02:22. Viewed 360 times.
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