Pruning a Young Peach Tree

Pruning is a very important step in maintaining peach trees. Dr. Mike Parker, Tree Fruit Extension Specialist with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at North Carolina State University talks about how to plant, prune, and maintain peach trees. In this video, we show how to prune a young peach tree.
Get a copy of Training and Pruning Fruit Trees at:
content.ces.ncsu.edu/training...
For more information on this or other topics, please visit NC Cooperative Extension online at www.ces.ncsu.edu

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Finally Easy demonstration! The best video out there for new whips and the first scaffolding pruning! Thank you!

[@70sRefugee]

Ive watched a lot of young/first planted peach pruning videos and this one I feel is the best. Short and to the point with very good demonstration. Thank you !

[@nancyinoregon809]

Agree this is excellent and very easy to understand what I need to do and why.

[@citrusholly]

Same here. I have spent year and years trying to really understand stone fruit pruning. And now I finally feel equipped!

[@adamlax27]

I have watched so many videos trying to figure out what to do and this video was exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

[@JamesJohnson-eg6yd]

Great video. I like how Mike showed the example (2:20) of the central leader and how it must be properly pruned so it remains strong. This is the strong suit of a video. I I thought the video was informative and the sound was good as well. Thank you Mike,

[@gastropod557]

Yes, more videos with this presenter. Great speaking voice and easily understood.

[@SeahorseWorkshop]

I really like the explanations. Nice job. No screaming. Good quantitative explanations.

[@CardiacCat]

Glad I found this one. I just planted 5 new peach trees that are around 26" tall. Of those 4 are whips. FULL of leaves so I was wondering when and where I shoud start to look to prune them. One already has the side branches so I just need to cut the center. Sounds like I need to cut the whips a little tall and then come back and adjust the prune next year in dormancy.

[@scootin123]

I am so proud that my home state of 50 years ago has a presents on the youtube band wagon giving Oklahoma And Michigan a respectable completion in the Orchard and vinyard training videos. The narrator bothered to show us a sample of of a young tree held at eye level and close enough so we can see why we should prune as instructed

[@mdwelsch5]

great video. no nonsense, easily understood

[@blaqfish]

This is the first video I have seen that explains how and why the tree is cut Thank you sir

[@zezhang492]

Way to go! You just gotta love it when science directly improve our lives! Thank you very much for your skillful demo and crystal-clear explanations! May your new year be abundantly fruitful!

[@JohnDoe_88]

Very informative and easy to understand. Well done, thank you.

[@zoerowntree9285]

Thank you for precise, concise, information. So needed.

[@jaditegypsy5490]

Me too bsty, I have some very badly pruned older trees. I'm glad I found this video, it's easy to understand and very informative.

[@franzlimonta1171]

Dr. Parker, Thank you for your most helpful video, I look we look forward to a sweet tasting fruit.

[@KungFuMaintenance]

Well done explanations!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@jimcole4151]

Your videos are great- probably the best I've found. Thanks!

[@mariaj.4159]

I ate some really good peaches at my in-laws and got some seeds saved. I will try to grow my own peach tree. Thank you for these videos, they're Great! Consider me subscribed

[@bryankc9644]

You wont get good peaches that way. Buy a grafted tree from a nursery or home depot

[@jamesdondanville1008]

Thank you very much for taking the time to create these videos. Awesome help and really appreciate it.

[@rogerlaberge8294]

Thanks for this rare training knowledge. Great video!

[@wildchookMaryP]

Great video. I can't wait to practice on my fruit trees at the end of our summer. Another couple of weeks. Before, I just cut. I have more new trees, now I can do it this way :)

[@freedomforever45]

Fantastic explanation. Love the no nonsense approach

[@bergsoley]

Thank you for a wonderful explanation :)

[@simpleman6591]

Subscribed, and liked. Best pruning vids I've seen. Thanks

[@thegreenwoodelf8014]

Brilliantly concise thank you 🙏🏻

[@royske123]

Great video

[@lauras5312]

Thank you for sharing

[@alexandreasashanicol]

Thank you soooo much this is very helpful

[@kanehogan7049]

any more pruning videos from this guy? he's great. thanks

[@scootin123]

kane hogan yep this guy and his cameraman pulled off an excellent presentation. Rare for an institutional video production. More videos on Orchard management from this team please

[@drillsergeant623]

Probably got fired, probably for using to much force & breaking trees. 🤣🤣

[@geologotejano]

Nice clear video

[@HaibTshajHaib]

Very helpful. I have a 1 year old and there are only 6 branches. I'm not a big pruner. I love the flowers.

[@purdipurdi4003]

nice and clear explanation.

[@leodeboca]

Awesome!

[@bobpietraszewski4331]

Well done!

[@jizanAli296]

ماشاء الله ربنا يحفظكم ويسعدكم ويهديكم ربنا وتقبل دعا

[@khowromohammadpour904]

thank you

[@PlaygroundBully007]

Such a good video, thank you. The info on the top few inches explaining the growth to follow and that it will be cut out next dormant period is so key for a new tree and just want I was looking for. Do you have guidance on first year trees that maybe don't put out at least 3 good candidates for scaffolding branches? Would you just keep the good ones and hope it puts one out next season on the whip or on one of scaffolding branches?

[@thegretnaexperiment2.021]

Thanks! So helpful. I was afraid to cut the leader but now I see it’s ok. And thoughts on spreaders? Will they help increase the strength of the limb?

[@266cross]

Nice!

[@happyguru4446]

Hi, loved your vid! I am growing a nectarine tree from a pit. It's light green in color and measures (as of today) 19" tall. It has a ton of tiny leaves all the way up the main stalk starting from the soil line. It also is growing laterals all the way up (some longer than others). And little leaves in all the lateral crotches. Should I do and pinching or thinning? Should I be removing any of the random tiny leaves up the stalk? Thanks so much!

[@marcopaez8798]

saludos desde México...

[@evilroyslade2491]

great

[@tiggermojoe]

Hey Mike, this is a great demonstration, don't you have to worry about peach Leaf Curl in North Carolina, from pruning in the dormant season?

[@rotcod2886]

Great video. But the 'upright' shoots referred to at 2:40, when you prune those "next season," what kind of cut do you use? How far down do you cut (or how far up from the previous year's heading cut)? And what if it is a plum that I'm training/pruning to a vase shape?

[@maryangeles1]

Thanks for this video, Im in Phoenix Arizona and on summer when my tree has peaches the leaves start to get yellow and the peaches do not grow 20 inches what and when should I do this.

[@Veleish]

Try to pruning with Kuker double cut shear , it's much easier cutting than Felco 2.

[@dangatto8666]

Now would this pruning be done in fall or spring. My nectarine trees were grown indoors through the winter (Pennsylvania), and planted outdoors in the spring. the three trees are at least 5 feet tall; branches all over the place and have never seen a winter.

[@thatwasakward70]

Let it grow

[@mu99ins]

I planted a peach whip last April, and cut it knee high. Now, after 8 months, it's growing and has lots of leaves, but the branching is nothing like the peach trees in these videos. This peach tree has 4 branches at the top of the trunk. One branch, closest to the cut I made lst April, is almost vertical, and opposite this branch is a bump on the trunk with 3 branches growing out of it,( a horizontal row of branches gowing out of a bump). There are 2 branches growing just 4 inches above the graft. Is this tree doomed?

[@tomneal72]

i put in the address for the publication for fruit trees but i couldent find it also im growing calamansi plant would the same method in pruning a peach tree be the same as a calamansi ?

[@treeislife93]

i want to know what height should i keep for almond and peach and how much prunning is need in one year

[@CriticalElixer]

Let it gro after following the excellent instructions in this video.

[@troydunn04]

what if the first branches are much higher than 24". My first limb is 25" 2nd is 28" 3rd is 34" and 4th is a large upright main shootat 37". The tree is about 1" in diameter at the base. Should i just make these my top 4 branches?

[@user-yb4ye1xn7x]

Sir .does it use for apricot tree also?

[@scootin123]

عبدالرحمن الغامدي He did talk about a difference in pruning the tips of an apple and a peach. So apricot may have different pruning requirements as you suggest

[@rotcod2886]

HELP! Okay, but what do I do with a plum tree? I'm expecting to get two bare root plum trees in a couple weeks. Do I wait until June? I keep reading about Silver Leaf disease and it's scaring me. I dormant pruned my one plum tree last year and it was fine. Then I did it this year right before reading that I shouldn't do it with plums. HELP!

[@oa1986]

what time of year are you doing this?

[@lindaburns7477]

Here in NC, our peaches are typically planted around February. So these training cuts all occur during the dormant season. That way the young tree has the entire upcoming growing season to develop.

[@countallwriteins5221]

More on "trashy center"? Leader?

[@joeysowell116]

What is the white at the trunk of the tree?

[@vincassidrys7783]

White latex paint. Protects the young trunk from sunburn and borers (insects).

[@pattymuncy9731]

Planted peach tree in fall...Did not prune. It is blooming now, when will can I prune it?

[@dr.greenthumb6535]

Next spring, 3 -4weeks before bud break

[@short-shorts1325]

How do you stop ants from climbing up your peach trees?

[@gabepetro358]

Eder Castillo I saw in another video they put some kind of blue tape. I don't remember the name of it but it was the same concept as double sided tape. Taped it around the middle of the trunk or whatever so the bugs would get stuck.

[@Rick-tb4so]

Would you prune a new small maple tree the same way ??

[@lindaburns7477]

Good morning. The short answer is no. Peach trees are pruned this way to maximize light to the fruit. With a maple (whether a species maple or Japanese maple) if pruning is needed it is limited to directing growth to create an attractive silhouette or possibly to keep it to a certain size. What kind do you have? Is there a problem with it that you are trying to correct with pruning?

[@Rick-tb4so]

I just removed a cherry tree because the lower part split. I put in a maple that will grow to 30 feet. the tree is new growth 5' tall. I want to make sure I don't cause any harm to it. If you want to cut back on a limb is there a certain location ? Or can you cut any where ?

[@lindaburns7477]

Sounds like you may have a red maple, which can get 30' tall. It is very important to know how and where to prune, because it impacts the direction of future growth and the ultimate shape of the tree. For instance, in most cases you don't want to cut back the central leader ( the main trunk of the tree) hard, because that's where your good tree shape comes from. Here is a link to some information on proper pruning, such as the different types of cuts that can be made: content.ces.ncsu.edu/pruning-trees-and-shrubs. If you are in North Carolina, I suggest calling your county's Extension agent to see if there are any pruning classes or other assistance they can provide.

[@Rick-tb4so]

Thank you......

[@kennyhendrix2028]

Well that wasn’t confusing

[@scottl3439]

I thought you were not supposed to prune peach tree in winter.

[@scootin123]

That brochure is like from 1902 OK maybe I'm exaggerating, 1910, Yea that's more like it . Every University offers the same book wether NC State , Oklahoma, Michigan , you name it it a free down load on the internet . It is the only thing going . It doesn't explain everything

[@PharmacyTechLove]

I think I pruned mine to much from watching this video 😭😭

[@nathanprindler]

Watching you cut off basically half the tree is so painful to watch- I literally flinched. Painful, but necessary.

[@junaidmajeed3222]

You have destroyed the tree i also harvest tree the best way to harvest more is to keep the number of branches more

[@HaibTshajHaib]

Very helpful. I have a 1 year old and there are only 6 branches. I'm not a big pruner. I love the flowers.