The latest pruning time and methods of apricot trees

When growing apricots, it needs to be pruned and reshaped at least once or twice a year. The main purpose of pruning is to adjust the tree vigor, improve the fruiting rate of apricot trees, and prolong the fruiting period of apricot trees. So when do apricot trees get pruned? What is the pruning method? Let's learn together.

I. Trim time

There is no time limit for pruning apricot trees, that is to say, they can be pruned all year round, but the focus of pruning in each season is different, so we need to prune according to the needs of apricot tree growth. But the best time to prune apricot trees is winter, when apricot trees are dormant and pruned, it suffers the least damage. Moreover, if we prune in winter, we can carry out a lot of pruning and renewal of branches and leaves, and the apricot tree itself has little effect. However, if it is pruned in other seasons, it cannot be cut again, because the healing ability is reduced, which will affect the growth of apricot trees, so it is generally based on light cutting.

II. Trimming method

1. Young tree pruning

Apricot trees in the young tree period is mainly to determine the stem, plastic mainly, this stage is to form a complete tree shape, and expand the crown. Apricot trees generally adopt a open-heart tree shape, first retaining the base trunk, then retaining two or three main trunks at the base, and finally forming three, four and more branches on each trunk. After the young trees are formed, it is necessary to adjust the crown of the young trees and continuously expand the crown, which can improve the fruiting rate of the fruiting period. We also need proper pruning and thinning of over-dense branches.

2. Pruning at the initial fruit stage

The yield of apricot trees in the early fruiting period is generally not very high, but in order to improve the fruiting rate of apricot trees as much as possible, pruning of branches is also very important. First of all, we need to prune the irregular branches and leaves to cultivate the growth of vegetative branches; secondly, we need to shorten the branches at all levels, maintain the tree shape, and constantly expand the crown, make use of space as much as possible, and cultivate more fruit mother branches.

3. Pruning in full fruiting period

After entering the peak fruit period, it is necessary to continuously increase new branches, eliminate old branches, and appropriately truncate trunk and lateral branches at all levels. Keep strong branches and strong branches, thinning the crown, pruning the branches that grow too densely at the upper part, and pruning the cross branches, overlapping branches, weak fruit branches, dead branches, etc. The most important thing is to cultivate new fruiting mother branches, promote the growth of fruiting mother branches, and improve the fruiting rate of fruiting mother branches.

4. Senescent tree pruning

For aging apricot trees, what we have to do is to renew the branches, mainly by pruning with retraction and renewal. The fruit yield of senescent trees will be greatly reduced, and there will be a large number of flower and fruit drops, so we need to carry out scientific research according to the age, tree potential, management level and senescence of apricot trees. When tree vigor is good, only light regeneration can be carried out, and when tree vigor is weak, medium regeneration can be carried out, but if tree vigor is seriously weak, heavy regeneration needs to be carried out.

The above is an introduction to the pruning techniques of apricot planting that Xiaobian wants to share with you today. Xiao Bian mainly through the apricot tree pruning time, and according to the apricot tree different growth period introduction to let everyone understand apricot tree pruning, hope to help everyone.