Backyard Orchard Demo - First Summer Pruning

[@dianaduong]

"If you have to think about making the cut, just make the cut!" HA! Wasn't expecting you to say that, but love it! Will do.

[@MrEunderwood]

I wish I had discovered this series sooner as I just started my orchard in the spring of 2021. I planted everything at 20 ft. spacing. I guess, if nothing else, now I know I can plant in between what's already established.

[@ugosmith7529]

20 ft is great if you plan on growing full sized trees and plan on having an orchard ladder. If you are ok with the heavy pruning that this approach requires, then yes, you could essentially plant a new tree in between each of your existing tree

[@kenebarb5377]

Me and you both

[@michelearcher3370]

Brutal! I'll have to watch this again in June to gather some courage!

[@growinglongisland]

This guy makes it look so easy!

[@nosuca99]

Thanks! I did see one of your other videos that talked about that. Your videos are a great source of information. We are buying a house on 2 acres and plan to plant a hobby farm with fruit and nut trees. It's great to get advice from someone in central Cal

[@johnwhite5464]

Very informative and I think you did a wonderful job in explaining pruning to fruit trees...

[@aerofart]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the quick reply. Backyard orchards and fruit tree care is still a bit of a mystery to me. I'm trying to learn all I can. Mistakes made with trees are costly, both monetarily and in time lost. And at my age, I need to get it right. Cheers!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

@duongdiana Yes, remove small fruit and blossoms now. As for size control, maintain a plant structure in balance to the container size its grown in.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Most peaches are self-fruitful. Pollinators would be determined by variety and bloom time. For structure, work from the lowest scaffold branches produced in the first season. Top back to the lowest balanced form you can work with.

[@germansalomon7530]

Hey Tom, I just started to watch your videos and learning more about your BACKYARD ORCHARD CULTURE. I have a small space of 4ft x 40ft next to a block wall on the north side. After watching some of your videos and reading about Backyard Orchard Culture philosofy, I'm planning on planting 15 fruit trees on that space! (pluouts, apriums, nectarine, apricot,citrus and avocado) My question is, based on your experience, can this be possible if I plant two trees 2ft space together and 3ft space from every two trees? Thanks

[@smellypunks]

Great video. In future can you upload in higher quality please, 480p would be great. thanks

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Those are called tree protectors. Basically just cardboard milk cartons. They protect young trees from sunburn.

[@CasildaChenier]

I've been afraid of planting grafted fruit trees. You make it look attainable. Will try if i find a plum/pluot or peach-my next acquisition!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Casilda Chenier afraid for what reason? Very few fruit trees fair well on their own root. This is the only reason they are grafted onto different roots.

[@emeraldisle8]

I live in southern Calif and my 3 yr old plum & nectarine trees have produced all they're going to produce. I've never trimmed them yet and realize that I should this year. We're in the last week of June now. During what month should I trim them?

[@cutthecord1]

what is the best time to summer prune for northern climate where growing season isn't as long as California.

[@paulluna45]

I planted a peach tree this summer and am just now watching your vids. Do I need another peach tree to polinate and if so is it to late to dig beside the existing one and plant very close? Also you mentioned that you should cut the tree so only a knee high section is sticking out of the ground so the tree grows low to the ground. When do I do this, is it to late now, should I wait for summer?

[@dianaduong]

Tom, so I have an ultra-dwarf fuji apple tree grown in a container that has lots of blossoms and 3-4 small apples on it. I've had the tree for about 6 months. Should I remove the blossoms and apples? Does size control pruning apply to fruit trees grown in containers? Thank so much!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Commercial tree spacing is determined by equipment access needs, you're tree spacing should be determined by your access needs and esthetics and ornamental appeal. Consider something between 4 and 10 feet.

[@johnpaul8692]

Hello, I was reading your webpage on backyard orchard culture. For bareroot Cherry trees planted in spring (Northeast USA), if I missed the spring pruning, should I be pruning back more than 50% of the new growth with mid-summer pruning?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Yes, prune now or in the next couple of weeks. Cherries set fruiting spurs just above last seasons cuts. Make low cuts to develop manageable, reachable fruiting wood.

[@dianaduong]

@DaveWilsonTrees - Oooookay.. if you say so, I'll be crying the entire time but I'll pull those fruits and blossoms off. Saw some new blossoms today too. :( At what point would leaving the blossoms and fruit on the tree be okay? Thanks again!

[@aerofart]

What are those wraps around the trunks of the trees and what purpose do they serve?

[@PeterStupalski-ed2kg]

Hi my name is Peter and I’m growing plums but this year I have two 4 in one pluots ordered any advise for a new pluot boniest ? Thanks

[@flyingplantsinspace]

@DaveWilsonTrees That would explain it. I'm in western NJ and the last 2 summers have been incredibly humid.

[@portugeeprepper6821]

Do you guys have a fertilizing and spray program with the backyard orchard or are they being grown organically. Thanks

[@bowler8]

I have a peach...pulled off around 300 baby peaches this morning...I cringe when I start to remove...but in august...I'll be smiling when I have giant peaches. It is a semi dwarf tree

[@jheasley1]

I know Tom likes to prune Pluot Trees for backyard orchard setting back to around 5', but to get the highest yield what height is best for Pluot & Aprium trees.

[@BackyardGardening]

I appreciate you sir..

[@fryloc77]

fantastic video thanks. About how much of the growth do you prune off? I have read to do about a third of the growth. Just wondered what your opinion was? Thanks again

[@lisawells4958]

Don’t take more than a third or it’ll send up suckers.

[@carolnagle8257]

I bought one of your apricot trees in Jan. It's now Sept. and I didn't do the summer pruning in the middle of summer. I live in the San Francisco bay area. Is it too late to do that first year summer pruning?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Yes too late now. Prune it back a little this winter when it’s dormant, say January sometime.. then prune it back more in the spring when you are thinning fruit. Another pruning just after you harvest. Then prune yearly in spring and after harvest. Maybe a late summer size control prune that early harvested fruit sometimes need.

[@Wellgrounded8]

I just planted new bare root apple trees the first of this year. What should I do as far as pruning?

[@tbluemel]

Dave, Can you indicate the spacing between trees and between rows? I am planning to plant 21 dwarf fruit trees with 6 feet between trees and 8 feet between rows and I want to know if that will work. And thanks for all your videos - I have been watching them for years!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

We have a mix of 5 foot and 4 foot spacing. 6 feet is great, but it's really what you want and what works for you. If you don't need to drive a small tractor between them, you may not need 8 foot rows.. But if you have room, use it.

[@tbluemel]

@@DaveWilsonTrees Sorry for calling you Dave, Tom. Thank you so much for your reply! This concept is so exciting and your advice has always been great. The backyard orchard concept opens many doors for a serious fruit tree hobbyist.

[@nosuca99]

I notice your trees are fairly close together, What is your suggestion on spacing for fruit and citrus trees?

[@lofenoialof5320]

I just planted some dwarf and multi bud apples . Is it best to prune them as a goblet shape or as a central leader with 12” spacing between the scaffolds. Thanks !

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

well, you can't prune the multi-bud as central leader, so prune the largest scion to match the smallest ones, if needed. Keep the varieties all even with summer pruning. The single variety apples you can prune as you like.

[@lofenoialof5320]

Dave Wilson Nursery that sounds good ! Also you mentioned planting fruit trees on a mound in clay rich areas. How do you recommend planting a mulberry tree in a way that the roots won’t becomes overly invasive ? Plant in a box or on a 12” mound Thank you for all of the wonderful help !

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Mulberries have an aggressive root system no matter what you do. Maybe a box with the bottom cut out might give you some control but we couldn't say how much. That will force the roots down. Deep watering's would also help.

[@lofenoialof5320]

Dave Wilson Nursery that’s good to know. Maybe I will just find a 20 + gallon pot and keep it in there , root pruning every now and then. Thanks so much

[@flyingplantsinspace]

my cherry trees keep getting leaf spot and loose almost all their leaves before the end of summer, but they grow like crazy all spring.

[@heathdspain]

Hey ive got a dwarf peach tree and is there anything i need to do to it for the first year its been out? Thanks

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

on apple and pear trees what wood would u cut? would u do heading cuts to keep tree sized? thanks need all help i can get planted 40 apple pear trees over last 3 yreas .

[@andrewgoodwin3557]

so i watch ur videos all the time so i tried the high-density on all my fruit trees. Some did not come back so here my questions. 1. I see that u dont cut these do to the knee like u did n one of ur videos y. 2. Can I see how the ones that u came back look like now they should b at least 5 years old. 3. Can i buy some asian pears from u and have them shipped. I live n st.louis Missouri. thanks

[@CAJ7395]

Just learning and getting into fruit trees. With all the pruning you are doing, is it possible to propagate some of those cuttings?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Yes, it's possible.

[@5nsheepfold]

Only the cherry trees were put in raised beds, why? Thanks!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

5nsheepfold Cherry roots are the least tolerant of poor draining soils. They don't like 'wet feet' and require good drainage.

[@krystaleverett5197]

Is it ever too late to try to prune to a size where you can reach fruit? We moved into a house that has a three in one cherry tree in three back. It is absolutely gorgeous and provides a beautiful shade area but it was obviously planted when the house was built in the early 80's but has been allowed to get as tall as it wants. It is nearly a story taller than my single story house. It produces very very little fruit and what it does is unreachable! It also drops fruit early a lot I think. I am all organic and have been slowly working on all the gardens in the small plot, wanting a more permaculture style garden. Is there anything I can do to make this tree usable or is it a lost cause?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

+Krystal Everett Prune down to a manageable, original scaffold. This should be done now during winter only. Should be about 4' to 5' tall. Allow new growth to establish until about July 1 and then cut back by 50 % or more to a manageable fruiting structure. In the future summer prune for size control and winter prune for detail. Never allow the tree to become any larger than your chosen manageable size again. Will take at least two years for re-development of fruiting Spurs. Monitor irrigation and only use low, low nitrogen fertilizers in the future. This will slow growth and help fruit set.

[@krystaleverett5197]

+Dave Wilson Nursery that is a scary thought! Lol the tree is 30' tall. Thank you for getting back to me! I figured it was too late. We have only lived here 2 years so it was pretty much this size when we got here. Thanks for the advice!

[@Jakearrian]

+Krystal Everett Did you do it?

[@flowergrowersmith449]

Why are some apricot/plum crosses called pluots and others apriums??? Thanks guys - another excellent vid!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

The word Pluot and Aprium is a combination of Plum and apricot, just like the fruit is, Pluot has more plum parentage and Aprium has more apricot parentage. So the "Plu" from plum and the "ot" from apricot makes the word Pluot. Opposite for Aprium. Thanks for watching!

[@DawnaRo]

It's the first of Oct in Utah and my fruit trees were planted last year. Is it too late to summer prune? If so, should I wait till next summer or prune for size in winter?

[@kofokofo]

what are the rootstocks of all these trees? can i use seedlings and keep them small in this way as well?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

+fffff We have a mix of standard and semi-dwarf rootstocks. Rootstocks are selected for many factors such as anchorage, disease resistance, etc.. Seedlings often lack the traits that make for a good rootstock, and many can take years to produce. Best to plant grafted trees.

[@olivervarga8783]

Dave Wilson Nursery toplky

[@Sia_playsYT]

Hi, Tom , Can you please advise . I replanted my 2 yrs Old nectarine tree from a Big pot ( coz he wasnt doing good) into the ground. It is almost 10 feet tall, leggy and most of the growth is on the top only. Please see attached pics. Do i need to prune it back to knee hight just like we do with the bare root tree? or shall i leave it as it is.? Its Mid Autumn here ( sydney) sandy

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

@amusingisthedawn that is usually a result of high humidity.. what city/state are you in?

[@nofocus1]

Thanks great video

[@Sia_playsYT]

Hi tom. When it comes to prunning duo or trio planting plants growth towards the centre can be cut at any stage or shall I wait till the full spring growth as per backyard orchard culture guidelines. As I have duo plants and the gowth is crossing each other already in centre and we are only 30 days into spring. Does same prunning culture also applies to plants in big pots. Thanks

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

***** You can remove interior crossing growth whenever it is convenient for you. Same for plants in pots.

[@Sia_playsYT]

Thanks DWN

[@PANTTERA1959]

Why are the trees so close together? Are you planing to dig them up for sale or something else?

[@tmccrack76]

PANTTERA1959 you should watch his series. He explains why

[@therealcompamikey]

Would you recommend this same type of pruning on citrus and avacado?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Absolutely.

[@leayick2322]

can Pluto or aprium be espalier trained?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Lea Yick absolutely.

[@mvogelmeier1]

How do you prune a braided Apple tree?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Just like it was one tree.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

No Shiro or Methley plums?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

+BlackHawkPSU We have a Shiro planted in our demo orchard.

[@expatconn7242]

Scared to cut my trees might not grow back my plum taking a long time if I cut it I would no growth at all

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Your plum should be fine, unless it was a older, larger caliper tree when you bought it. Even then plum should be fine. Sometimes larger caliper peach and nectarine don't like to be topped low. If you're worried you can always opt to go higher.

[@bbendzunas]

What time of the year is this?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Spring or early summer. We do our first size control pruning at the same time we thin the fruit.

[@PebblesandDashthegoofycats]

Hey Tom just wondering is this pruning done late summer? I'm from South Australia where the weather reaches 40 degrees celsius and higher and just wanted to know if done to early in summer will be the plants be affected by the heat. Thanks

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Summer pruning is strictly for size control. You would never consider opening up the centers when plants would be susceptible to sunburn.

[@denisecares6124]

How do these low growth trees stand up to climbing racoons that break branches? Would it be better to have taller trees?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Raccoons can climb the tallest trees. Better to have low scaffold trees where the branches have more support. Create short scaffolds that are much stronger than long lanky ones.

[@jpsamy_inthezone]

💚💚💚

[@chedthaimarket]

love you videos "> thanks lol

[@NoName-oy2km]

I know nothing about gardening....all i took away....is chop the tree within an inch of its life?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Stone fruit varieties are budded onto rootstocks just a few inches above the soil. Then grown up a stake to gain caliper and height so they can be sold to retail nurseries. When we plant a tree at home we don’t want all that height with no branching. We top trees low at planting to create branching, and a lower fruiting canopy. Fruit trees not topped when planted will soon have a fruiting canopy far too high.

[@NoName-oy2km]

@@DaveWilsonTrees Got it, Thank you for detailed reply.

[@kermitthefrog1041]

Hello

[@applehair995]

i never prune my fruit trees, just too lazy, let it be till it bears fruit. therefore they never reached their full potential

[@kkhyujyjy]

hi

[@nexanimal]

This video -- in fact ALL of your videos -- really are not helpful at all. I am a complete novice at this and just watching your guy clip, clip, clip at lightning speed with minimal explanation and really poor photography does not really teach much. You need to pull the branch open, point at what needs to be cut, and explain why. Since I have six newly-planted Dave Wilson trees that need pruning, the poor quality of this video is really disappointing. Where is the basic training video?

[@marshabalderrama8903]

Hi there, what is that wrapped around your trees? Where could I buy something like that?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

+Marsha Balderrama Those are tree protectors, basically just cardboard milk containers. For protection from sun and small critters.

[@marshabalderrama8903]

That's great. I'll try that. Thanks.😉