Summer Pruning Fruit Trees

[@danihall3676]

I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you so much. My trees are my happy place.

[@sylviamcginty6269]

I am learning so much. Although I am in the desert (Las Vegas, NV) and I am losing two multi-budded peach trees to the intense summer heat, but I have 9 single fruit, and one multi-budded apple tree that are doing awesome! My yard is so big that building up the mulch has proven to be a challenge - but I will get there! Thank you Dave Wilson's Nursery and Tom, when I retire in 2-3 years, I hope to have at least 25 fruit trees to tend to!

[@truthbetold2611]

Very helpful instructions how to recognize fruiting and vegetation growth. Thank you!

[@tagi3d]

Have just planted 21 trees at my new house... can't wait to be saying DELICIOUS.

[@Desert2GardenLV]

Glad to see you again Tom! The Backyard Orchard Demo is looking excellent! All my trees from you guys are doing well in their 1st year. Lookin forward to a season of fruit next year.

[@Bearworf1]

Happy to see you back on the air Tom. Been using your techniques on my fruit trees and they are all responding nicely. I topped off the pear trees as they put on about four feet of growth since April. In Michigan, we have been experiencing a very dry and hot (90's) Summer weather with no relief in sight. (Even the weeds are dying) Mulching and controlled watering are keeping my trees looking healthy and fruitful. Thanks for your tips and videos. You are my ultimate go-to guy for trees and fruit tree pruning. I'd like to see a video on how you add nutrients for the trees and how often, what types you use etc. I have been using just 12-12-12 in the Spring and keep an eye on watering. Love the videos! Thanks, Steve

[@aegarden6006]

I have a Flavor King and Flavor Grenade, etc. I have my backyard orchard with these trees due to your tips. They respond great to trimming, I also do it to bring their size down. Thanks for great video.

[@bigpapi3636]

Great video and great advice on pruning. Thanks.

[@bobchambers6952]

Thanks Tom, I enjoy your videos so much. Thanks again. Bob.

[@KittyHerder]

This is insanely useful. I just summer pruned a too-tall peach tree and am going to work on my Dave Wilson apple trees in a couple of weeks.

[@mosesboyajian4452]

Awesome tips!

[@calartian85]

Thanks. I’m a new owner of 5 apples 3 cherries and 2 pears in zone 5. Getting ready for summer pruning. I appreciate the straight forward approach here.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Very nice! We'd love to hear feedback on growing fruit in zone 5.

[@carolfackler2339]

Great explanation of fruiting wood vs. vegetative growth. Thank you!

[@the_DOS]

Thanks for posting this video! Been waiting for it! I hope you can add a new pomegranate pruning video next time.

[@Larry342516]

Thank you for the pruning lesson.

[@JacobBe5]

My trees went in the ground this year (Virginia). Did my first summer prune last week. I might have the plants a little close to each other (5 feet apart on center). Have already seen new growth branching out from below the cuts I made. All are cut for backyard orchard (knee high initial cut), lost a plum when they went in the ground, so will replace this fall, but otherwise seem to be okay. Although some of the trees are really stunted. Also did an arctic Kiwi vine pairing, and this fall will add some hazelnut bushes. Sadly deer in my neighborhood like my trees as well, so had to add some fencing.

[@mgmatiasek]

Great video! One follow-up question does vegetative wood transform into fruiting wood in subsequent seasons?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Yes, that is correct.

[@Tech_-ez7us]

Will you do a series on avocado trees? Mine didn't survive the winter and had a hard time the summer before.

[@babaktaherian]

Hi Tom, Can you please post a video on pruning pomegranate trees. Particularly how to prune a more established pomegranate for quality fruit production? I would truly appreciate that.

[@jandoolin6215]

Great video! Tom could I keep the size small and just keep pruning the top to keep it at 6' or 7' and not ever? let it grow that tall

[@johnlord8337]

'Bout time we see a vid from you .... You get the lottery and do a world cruise or something ? DDDDD Keep up the good vids.

[@BeatPercussion52]

Do you guys prune your apple and pear trees to an open center? If not can you?

[@shawnallen975]

Mr. Spellman, I recently read Ann Ralphs book, Grow a Little Fruit Tree. In her book, she recommends the summer prune to be around the summer solstice. Is there a reason you wait until August before you do that prune? Thank you!

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

August was just the first time we could all get together and prune. Ideally we summer prune first at the same time we thin fruit in the spring. Then each tree gets pruned a second time just after its fruit is harvested. Depending how early the variety it may get summer pruned a third time, or held over and winter pruned.

[@shawnallen975]

Thank you for that information and all the rest thru the last couple years. Your videos motivated me to begin and keep me inspired as I shuffle along this journey! Thank you and God bless you.

[@flowergrowersmith449]

You can tell when an expert is talking, as opposed to an enthusiastic amateur. You are a real fruit tree expert and I love your videos. I'm very interested I how to thin fruit properly. I'll look through your back catalogue, but if there's nothing there, would you consider giving a little talk on it??

[@bobchambers6952]

His Tom, Please can you give me some advice. I have a grape vine which is 2 years old. The first year it made 4 metres in length. This year I have let a shoot come out every 300 mm, they have grown to 1.5 metres at this time. Each shoot has 2 bunches of grapes on. 1. Do I take off 1 bunch of grapes. 2. Do I nip out side shoots. 3. Do I leave fruiting shoots to go on growing. Great videos Tom. Bob from England

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

On a two year vine it would be recommended to remove 50% of the fruit clusters. If you are growing the vine as a single leader to a specific height you could cut the side shoots back to one or two buds. Reduce back to two buds several times through the growing season and remove them completely during the dormant season. If the shoots are needed for structure then allow them to develop.

[@memberson]

my fruit trees down from 15 feet to 5 feet. I found a hard time finding any research on how small can you keep a fruit tree. I would like to keep my fruit trees 4/2 - 5 feet tall if that's possible I want to keep my dwarf fruit trees Dwarfs

[@bigpapi3636]

Im trying to do the same. It's a tough decision to prune back a young tree but in the long run its worth the effort. I hope.

[@VitaliusVitality]

Are the pruned branches left on the ground to feed the trees or are they removed from the area?

[@memberson]

I leave my crew branches on the ground to see the truth I've been doing it for years. I use weed as well are used grass clippings

[@SoCalGardenerGreg]

hay Dave on the video at 9:15 you show two types of wood is there a preference for sion bud wood or will either be fine for grafting/budding.thanks so much.hope you're spending more time more time with your granddaughter.

[@SoCalGardenerGreg]

about 5 minutes into video

[@tammyhoman9550]

do you ever root your pruning from your fruiting wood? I'm starting some citrus trees from seed how big do they need to get before I prune them? i

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Always best to purchase citrus from licensed growers. Seedlings or cuttings are not reliably productive and citrus should only be grown from registered virus free stock.

[@rickwheeler3850]

when u irrigate,how long do u irrigate? and what type of system?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

We use micro-sprinklers and leave them on 6 to 8 hours.

[@Bearworf1]

Hi Dave! Have a big problem and hope you can help. For the first time, I started three grape vines in raised beds. They were growing great until japanese beetles started to skeletonize all the leaves on the plants. Have you had any similar situations with your grapes? If you have, how do you control them? Currently I use a self made spray using cayenne pepper, garlic and dish soap. It seems to work, but they come back a week or so later. Am I doomed to this regular spraying to keep my plants alive? Thanks, Steve.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Japanese beetle are what we consider transient insects. They do not colonize the plants they just come to feed. Without a reproductive population to control it will be near impossible to eliminate the issue. They are only active through the hot summer months into fall. They will be gone soon for several months. Best advise, if your home spun recipe works keep applying it weekly or bi weekly until the plants go dormant or the insect disappears.

[@adronlamb9334]

You may also want to look for a pollinator friendly grub control product or professional application and have the entire area treated. They reproduce as adults and grow in the ground as grubs and mate near where they feed. Get them when they are grubs to reduce the population. A heavy Neem oil spray at the right time will help, but spray the dirt too early in the season to get the grubs. And spray adults when you see them, they will mate but not reproduce after being sprayed with Neem. I also hand pick them when the population is low enough

[@cameron771000]

Please post more videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been too long

[@tyenns9]

Irrigated only twice all summer? How tall is the mulch layer? Im in fresno and am pretty sure my trees would all be dead if I only irrigated twice.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

We can get away with once a month watering because our mulch layer is about 8 inches deep.

[@tyenns9]

Dave Wilson Nursery I'll have to try that. Thanks!

[@billestrada1412]

A year ago I planted a cherry, a peach, 2 plum and 2 pear trees in my back yard. I lost the cherry tree and this year I replanted another cherry tree but it looks I am going to lose it too. I did everything I was told to do. What do you think I may be doing wrong? . I live in the Denver area I Colorado.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Bill Estrada cherries don’t like ‘wet feet’ poor drainage and over watering will kill them. If you have poor drainage plant cherries in a raised bed. If you’re watering any fruit tree more than once a week it’s probably too much.

[@Retired_SeniorChief]

Where can we get some of the specimens you have here?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/where-to-buy-dwn-trees

[@aparnakumta2291]

At 5:25, you talk about identifying vegetative growth versus fruiting growth. Do they grow independently of each other? Or is it that the vegetative growth becomes fruiting growth if left unchecked? Is this true for all fruit trees?

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

Yes, vegetative growth will become fruiting wood in all fruit trees.

[@richardplace4856]

Would anyone happen to know what brand and/or model Mr. Tom is using to make these large cuts?

[@sylvia106]

He says in the beginning. But google Bahco, a deluxe manufacturer of tools.

[@anneg8319]

Telco poppers. Very pricey.

[@lofenoialof5320]

Are avocados okay to prune for height in the summer ? Thanks

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

L O F E N O I A L O F yes, just be sure to protect the exposed wood from sunburn.

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

with a white wash, 50% indoor paint, 50% water.

[@lofenoialof5320]

Dave Wilson Nursery thanks ! Do you know why peach and apricot trees which have good leaf production are not producing fruit ? I prune and feed them regularly and water them. Thanks

[@DaveWilsonTrees]

How old are they? How often do you water? The apricot may need a pollinator, the peach only if its a really old variety.

[@lofenoialof5320]

Dave Wilson Nursery three years old and two years old for the peaches. I water a them daily about 1/4”. The apricot has about 2-3 small hard fruits each year; it’s about 5-6 years old. Thanks