Pruning Fruit Trees

Morning All and Merry Christmas

We have Pear, Apple , Plum and Quince trees in the garden, my farther-in-law was going to help me prune them because they need bring under control. I suspect they haven't been pruned in a few years. First time I said about it he said you prune in spring when they start blossoming but yesterday he said they needed doing a few weeks ago

So now I'm confused but convinced hes doesnt really know what hes doing so my question is when do they need pruning, I know I take off crossed branches (which there are alot), also anything that looks dead but dont know how to tell if its diseased

Thanks Kirst

 

Prune pear and apple in the middle of winter. DO NOT prune plum trees until late spring.

Remove, with a very sharp knife or secaters, all deseased ! branches, then branches that are rubbing against each other and finally remove branches to allow air through the tree, open it up in the centre.

There are far better sites that give sketches, but that should get you going. Cheers, Tony.

 

I made the mistake of pruning a young plum in the winter and it died!

 

Our trees arent young they are mature

 

Immature or mature, prunus - plum - trees should only be pruned in summer to avoid being infected with silver leaf disease.