Getting Lots of Fruit: 4 Tips For Pruning Fruit Trees From Your Tree Trimming Service | Dallas, TX

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Pruning fruit trees is slightly different than pruning other types of trees, like oak trees. It requires different techniques and a unique game plan that will vary from one type of fruit to another. To ensure that the fruit trees bear as much fruit as possible and that the fruit will be sweet and juicy, you should prune the trees every year. If you don’t know what each fruit tree needs, it may be best to leave this job to a professional tree trimming service.

A professional tree care company will be able to take a look at the existing condition of the fruit trees, as well as their type, to determine what to do next. They’ll be able to determine which areas of the trees need to be trimmed in order for them to thrive year after year. With regular pruning, you should be able to see a noticeable difference in the amount of fruit that each tree is able to bear, as well as the quality of the fruit.

#1. Trim When There Are No Leaves

When it comes to tree trimming, timing is everything. Call a tree trimming service or trim your trees when the leaves are off. This is when the fruit trees are dormant. Not only is it easier for you or a professional to see where you’re cutting and what you’re removing, but removing the dormant buds will help invigorate the remaining buds that are on the branches. This ensures that the tree will bear more fruit in the upcoming year.

If you attempt to prune the fruit trees during the summer or if you call a tree trimming service during that time, the pruning will remove mainly the leaves, which are responsible for producing nutrients for the tree. This will expose any fruit that is on the branches to sunburn, and it will also slow the fruit from ripening. The only time that you should consider calling a tree trimming company in Dallas, TX during the early summer is if you want to slow down overly vigorous trees.

#2. Prune the Trees Based on Their Age

One of the main reasons why most homeowners will leave the pruning to a professional tree trimming service is because the amount of pruning that each tree needs will depend on many factors, like their age. Young trees that have low vigor require heavy pruning in order to grow strong and healthy. This will also encourage the tree to bear more fruit when it gets older. Heavy pruning will encourage the tree to grow rapidly although this means that the tree will not bear much fruit at all. Most tree trimming services will recommend leaving the small horizontal branches on the trees untouched to encourage fruiting in later years.

Young trees that are vigorous growers do not need to be pruned as heavily. They may even be encouraged to fruit earlier with techniques like branch bending. The tree trimming service will usually prune at their discretion based on what they see. It can be hard to discern what a tree needs without a lot of experience or training, which is why it’s best to leave this job to the professionals.

#3. Remove Branches Based on their Angle

Although you should remove diseased or injured branches as soon as possible, you should also take note of the angle that the branches are bending when pruning the trees. Any branches that bend downward will usually lose vigor with time, so they should be trimmed as soon as possible. These branches will bear very little fruit if any at all.

A healthy fruit tree should have a combination of upright and horizontal branches. Upright branches tend to remain vigorous while horizontal branches tend to be more fruitful. It’s ideal to have a lot of branches that bend at a 45 to 60 degree angle.

#4. Prune Mostly at the Top

Last but not least, it’s important to do most of the pruning at the top of the tree so that the lower branches are exposed to sunlight whenever possible. Shaded branches will eventually stop fruiting or produce very little fruit. Branches that are exposed to the sun will remain fruitful and will also produce some of the largest and juiciest fruit.

To ensure that as many of the lower branches receive sunlight, the tree trimming service will need to take a look at the current exposure of the branches and trim accordingly. By pruning the trees diligently while they’re young, the professionals can somewhat control the amount of fruit that the trees bear. They’ll be able to ensure that each tree is working at its maximum capacity and performance, so you’ll get to enjoy a lot of juicy fruit every year.

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The techniques involved with pruning fruit trees will vary from other types of trees. With that said, each fruit tree will require different types and levels of care. For example, when it comes to peach trees or nectarine trees, most professionals will recommend removing at least 50% of the previous year’s growth in an attempt to encourage the tree to grow healthier and stronger. When it comes to plum trees or cherry trees, only about 20% of the previous year’s growth should be removed.

It can be really difficult to discern what each fruit tree needs without the right type of experience and training. Although you are welcome to prune the fruit trees on your property by yourself, you’ll notice that the trees will bear more fruit and will be healthier if you rely on a tree trimming service in Dallas, TX. S&P Tree Service has provided homeowners with various types of tree care services for decades. Our tree care specialists have a lot of experience in dealing with all types of fruit trees and can help you come up with a game plan that works.

Give us a call today at 469-789-6775 for a free estimate!