I would like some advice on pruning my fruit trees. I already have some ideas but I want to know if I am on the right track.

First my Stella Cherry. This has a strong leader with a side branch, and three spindly branches just above the graft. It is shaping up to be tall and narrow and I would like some more spread. The leader got pruned back last winter but no branching resulted. I am thinking I will remove the spindly branches (Peter Pan can reach those and strips them of leaves anyway) but not sure how hard to prune back the leader, or when. I have heard that it is good to give cherries a summer prune as it heals better so should I prune now?

are the links working from the thumbnails? they don’t seem to be from here.

bluegreen said:

are the links working from the thumbnails? they don’t seem to be from here.

No, links not working. It’s a good idea to ask with a photo this way.

bluegreen said:

are the links working from the thumbnails? they don’t seem to be from here.

Not for me.

looks like a problem with PB. Have to go for full sized images, sorry.

next is my Trevatt Apricot. I have already given this a summer prune to shape and generally I am happy with the shape. However last winter I damaged the central leader by using the wrong tool (slaps wrist here) and ripped some of the bark. I wrapped it immediately and would say that it has healed to a certain extent but I am worried that it will be a gateway for disease. As there are a number of radiating branches below it I am thinking of removing it altogether resulting in a vase shape.

overall I am happy with the shape of my Anzac Peach and not sure if I need to prune or not other than removing inward growing branches. There is a weak branch low down so will probably remove that.

The Santa Rosa Plum is a bit of a challenge as growth seems thin and upwards and I would like some branching. There is one branch that wraps around another so I will be removing that. I have already given it a summer prune and there is some new growth already. A couple of branches where I pruned last year have produced three new branches and I am thinking of removing the centre branch in each case.

got the thumbnail link working. Needed to tick a box in my settings in the new PB.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

are the links working from the thumbnails? they don’t seem to be from here.

No, links not working. It’s a good idea to ask with a photo this way.

When I click on Open in New Tab, it goes straight to my PB…

bluegreen said:

next is my Trevatt Apricot. I have already given this a summer prune to shape and generally I am happy with the shape. However last winter I damaged the central leader by using the wrong tool (slaps wrist here) and ripped some of the bark. I wrapped it immediately and would say that it has healed to a certain extent but I am worried that it will be a gateway for disease. As there are a number of radiating branches below it I am thinking of removing it altogether resulting in a vase shape.

Awww, look at that little woolly darling…

Your peach tree looks peachy…sowwwwwy…couldn’t help myself, but it does look well-formed…

bluegreen said:

got the thumbnail link working. Needed to tick a box in my settings in the new PB.

Worked a treat…love the pose…“Lost in admiration”???

bluegreen said:

looks like a problem with PB. Have to go for full sized images, sorry.

yeah that’s what i would do.

bluegreen said:

The Santa Rosa Plum is a bit of a challenge as growth seems thin and upwards and I would like some branching. There is one branch that wraps around another so I will be removing that. I have already given it a summer prune and there is some new growth already. A couple of branches where I pruned last year have produced three new branches and I am thinking of removing the centre branch in each case.

apricot and peach yes – this plum is harder.

bluegreen said:

The Santa Rosa Plum is a bit of a challenge as growth seems thin and upwards and I would like some branching. There is one branch that wraps around another so I will be removing that. I have already given it a summer prune and there is some new growth already. A couple of branches where I pruned last year have produced three new branches and I am thinking of removing the centre branch in each case.

the plum looks a tad spindly – yes to pruning twisted branch – but i would wait a year on the central branch and lop its height instead.

Awww, look at that little woolly darling
—

hoy – i was gunna say that – but its off topic LOL.

Dinetta said:

Awww, look at that little woolly darling…

he’s expressing his opinion, that I should cut those tall branches down so he can eat the leaves :D

Dinetta said:

bluegreen said:

got the thumbnail link working. Needed to tick a box in my settings in the new PB.

Worked a treat…love the pose…“Lost in admiration”???

trying to reach the leaves, rather. Why do you think they are so bare below tongue reach?

bluegreen said:

trying to reach the leaves, rather. Why do you think they are so bare below tongue reach?

Come to think of it, it does rather look like those trees you see in paddocks, flat along the bottom of the canopy…

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

bluegreen said:

got the thumbnail link working. Needed to tick a box in my settings in the new PB.

Worked a treat…love the pose…“Lost in admiration”???

trying to reach the leaves, rather. Why do you think they are so bare below tongue reach?

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Worked a treat…love the pose…“Lost in admiration”???

trying to reach the leaves, rather. Why do you think they are so bare below tongue reach?

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

Ironic that under the heading ‘pruning my fruit trees, the sheep is pruning your fruit trees.

Time to turn him into lamb chops?

roughbarked said:

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

I wish I had the paddocks! But the final solution for this wooly lamb will be the freezer paddock!

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

I wish I had the paddocks! But the final solution for this wooly lamb will be the freezer paddock!

find out who the local fencers are and have a word (if you haven’t already). that’s not a big job for a fencer – and practically noone can afford fencing – so the fencer might have a few ideas to save money.

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

trying to reach the leaves, rather. Why do you think they are so bare below tongue reach?

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

Ironic that under the heading ‘pruning my fruit trees, the sheep is pruning your fruit trees.

Time to turn him into lamb chops?

the subject has been hijacked into a fencing thread.

justin said:

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

Problem is if the sheep likes the leaves, will stand on back legs and reach up . You’ll need a ladder to reach the fruit. Solution? Put sheep in sheep paddock. Orchard trees not in sheep paddock, goat paddock, cow paddock. Put poultry under fruit trees.

I wish I had the paddocks! But the final solution for this wooly lamb will be the freezer paddock!

find out who the local fencers are and have a word (if you haven’t already). that’s not a big job for a fencer – and practically noone can afford fencing – so the fencer might have a few ideas to save money.

without an income besides what the govt give me fencing is out of the question on any level. What I would like to do is get something like this then I can move it around to suit my needs.

What about some star pickets and chainwire? You could electrify them if desparate, with some electrical fencing tape. The thing is, Peter Pan is very much an environmentally friendly lawn mower, isn’t he? Munches grass and the result is fertiliser. He’s a sheep, so a bit of a dill and also is not very heavy (like cattle, or even new-born calves). Why turn him into lamb chops when he can, with some ingenuity, continue to earn his keep with the yard grass?

Dinetta said:

What about some star pickets and chainwire? You could electrify them if desparate, with some electrical fencing tape. The thing is, Peter Pan is very much an environmentally friendly lawn mower, isn’t he? Munches grass and the result is fertiliser. He’s a sheep, so a bit of a dill and also is not very heavy (like cattle, or even new-born calves). Why turn him into lamb chops when he can, with some ingenuity, continue to earn his keep with the yard grass?

It all comes down to money atm. I spend more than I get as it is so have to cut back rather than spend more. I took Peter Pan on with the intention of him being a source of meat, the idea being if it worked out then I would get a new lamb each Spring to raise for meat thus getting both a lawnmower and a source of organic meat. Might have to go buy a Lotto ticket for that to happen, the work situation being what it is.