Pruning Fruit Trees | Rejuvenate fruit trees through pruning | Pruning old neglected fruit trees

When you come across fruit trees that were left unpruned and neglected for several years, it may be difficult to know where to start and what to prune. In this video, I prune a couple of old Plum trees that were left on its own for a few years, showing the basic principles of what to do and how to proceed in these situations.
Check the video “Pruning Techniques - Essential Pruning Course" in the Pruning Fruit Trees Video Series, to know more about the techniques used in the video.
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Music - KZbin Audio Library
Don’t Look - Silent Partner
Slow Times Over Here - Midnight North

[@jankodera5811]

0:45 before 6:49 after several years pruning. Probably the best video on rejuvenating a fruit tree I saw. Thank you very much for your effort, patience and generosity when making and preparing this video. It may be nice to know that your knowledge and good intention will be spread across continents. Good health to you and keep up. 🙂

[@JSacadura]

Thanks for the comment and support, Mika. I appreciate it.

[@elliemae4525]

Great job, man! The trees look so relieved. God bless!

[@donnaroeckel516]

Best video I've seen yet. Thank you!

[@RadioRoxx.FM_90.1FM]

you are a great, dedicated and devoted three man ! I learn a lot from videos of this tipe made in my country but you are special.

[@2Birds1Stone_]

Awesome! Thanks for putting up the great pruning video!

[@adeshwodan4679]

Best pruning video yet. You show us rather than excessively jabber. Short concise title ms excellent.

[@cowboymcq6711]

Great video dude o was watching some other pruning videos and the music was so sad and boring I thought someone had died lol Thanks for the help I’ve got trees to get pruned way overdue

[@JSacadura]

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment.

[@antiLeixo]

High-Quality Content 5 stars ;)

[@newbiegarden]

Well done, thanks for sharing.

[@dchambers986]

Another Great Video! Thank you so much for the hard work and excellent production value.

[@JSacadura]

Thanks for the comment, David. I appreciate it.

[@paolocianci8685]

Amazing it is like magic how you can turn the tree around like that

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@JSacadura]

You're welcome!

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

As usual we are super impressed and thankfull for the great and informative content that you share. My question today is if similar pruning technique could be used on olive trees. We have 21 of them that have been neglected for 2 decades. Muito obrigado :)

[@JSacadura]

Hi. Thanks for the comment. Yes, the Olive trees can also be pruned and rejuvenated much the same way. I also have several, very old, Olive trees that are in bad shape and would benefit from it. If I have the time to prune them this year, I might try to film it to show the before and after.

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

@@JSacadura thanks for the reply! That would be so great! Most if out trees are cometely silvado (covered in brambles to the top). I'll wait with pruning them untill your video comes out :)

[@judeirwin2222]

@@healthyrootsstrongwings538 Get the secateurs or loppers out now, remove the brambles and burn them. Then get a pick and a pitchfork and dig out as much of the root of the blackberries as possible. They will only get in your way otherwise, when you prune the tree. There are many, many videos on pruning olive trees, so don't procrastinate. Get to it during this fairly slow-growing season and the trees will have time to recover. But don't expect a lot of olives in year one. Oh, and help the tree put on new growth by: 1) probing and loosening some of the soil around it. 2) Putting animal manure on for a meter or so around the tree. Rain will help this nutrition seep in, and the worms will come up and drag the organic matter down, thus helping to aerate the soil, which is needed so the tree can get more water.

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

@@judeirwin2222 Thanks for the advise! We haven't been sitting still and a lot of the brambles have been dealt with sort off with all kinds of tools. It is so much work though that digging the roots out is low priority for now. In stead of burning we have actually shredded the dried brambles up and made raised garden Beds out of them building the soil and using waste as a resource. I will make a video about it at some point :) Before I start pruning the trees I really want to make sure I'm doing it the right way and study it a bit more as not to ruin the trees. Actually today I picked up our first olive oil from the press and we just tasted it with some bread. Best thing ever!

[@plantioorganico5063]

A poda é fundamental pra plantas, bom vídeo amigo

[@MrShabanOfOzz]

Great video, thank you very much for sharing! Can I ask whether you would prune old trees in winter when the leaves have fallen or summer? In another video you mentioned that pruning in winter can cause vigorous upright sprout? Thanks again!

[@buddtwin2]

This is true it can but fruit tress are in there fruiting time during spring and summer so you wouldn’t want to prune them then. I typically prune my fruit trees in late February early March as winters were im at get below 32 at night.

[@branchingoutpermaculturewi4766]

NICE JOB LOOKS GOOD LOOVE THE GROWTH UPDATES

[@VitorMadeira]

O meu canal favorito de dicas de agricultura aqui no KZbin. Obrigado.

[@spear4food636]

Hi, a friend of mine here in the UK has an old neglected plum tree. I would say a third of the branches has fungus infected or dead, a third is very sparse but the other third looks healthy with plums on it. Would it be advisable to prune this back during summer as it’s often confusingly said here not to prune plum trees in damp seasons to avoid silver leaf disease? I love your videos 👍🏻

[@msheart2]

Very low trees my apple and pear trees are very neglected tall and I inherited them when we bought the house. I'm still not sure how to tackle mine. Nice work and video, thank you.

[@0617kitty]

thank you for sharing! You are giving me hope those very very overgrown fruit trees have hope to be pruned and become good looking, bearing tasteful fruit again. But bearing fruits isn't my concern. I actually don't care at all. My Dad has dementia and had been letting them growing crazyly tall. I am so afraid he is going to fall from climbing those trees to get the fruit. He couldn't understand it isn't best for a over 80 year old person to climb ladder to reach an uneven ground in the backyard. My sister would not allow anyone to come in the house to trim those trees down becasue of pandamic! If I could, I would cut them all down to nothingl!! I am going to buy that small chain saw and do somthing about it this weekend!

[@vittoriorabagliati8532]

well done, never do all the work in one year, always in two or three not to stress the tree

[@АнатолийДругинжирный-щ9щ]

глазам страшно а руки делают . спасибо за урок .весна пришла.всем успехов.г Николаев.

[@particular259]

bonito video, gracias J. por otra clase mas, saludos!

[@cathyandriamiadanarivo7504]

Very good job!

[@KRaLKuSCuTV]

MasaALLAH guzel insan Emeklerinize saglik. HEDiYeNiZi biraktim FULL DESTEK🔔🔔🔔🌹🌹👍,

[@lisamarie15]

What kind of tool is that? This is what I need!

[@sebastianfuentes3574]

Muy muy bueno!!!!! Sólo quiero preguntar por qué Ya no recomiendan la pasta arbokol para cortes grandes?

[@JSacadura]

No es necesariamente la Arbokol más moderna, pero las que tienen una base de hidrocarburos pueden mantener la humedad en la herida, lo que puede potenciar hongos y otras enfermedades.

[@29mirstudio]

I don't understand why you cut some branches and leave others. Seems arbitrary. Is it to reduce the density between branches?

[@Moonlight76876]

Thank you master ! Excellent pruning of a plum tree ! You just save my plum tree too ! Do you have video summer pruning of plum tree ? I summer pruned my plum tree, now I have new branches growing on some pruned branches, should I leave them all on without doing anything to them and in spring prune off if too many ?

[@JSacadura]

You're welcome. I was planning on doing a summer pruning video in a few weeks that will include plums. If the tree is young and you want it to concentrate its energy on the main branches, you can remove the watersprouts (vigorous vertical branches), as these will have to be removed anyway. Next spring you can concentrate on the other branches and shape the tree to your liking.

[@Moonlight76876]

@@JSacadura Thank you, I will watch for summer pruning of plum video.

[@jdr9419]

It would be great if he let us know the name of the instruments he was using.

[@biabarbosaperoladoatlantic1937]

Essa semana também comecei as podas pela aroeira, goiabeira e depois as outras. A goiabeira está com mais de 10 metros e muitas goiabas se perdem por não conseguir colhê-las. Vou gastar um bom tempo com ela.

[@geraldhickey6058]

Thank you for sharing. Let me get on with it.

[@MC-oo4tw]

What will happen to the cut branches?

[@edwardwillis8197]

We have a few in our yard that we just moved into and they have been neglected for a while.We want them to produce so I hope this helps .Also when is the best time March or before spring?

[@JSacadura]

I would prune them in late winter, while in dormancy (February, early March, where I live).

[@ericrosales9722]

Is it really better to prune in the summer for neglected apple trees? I think winter when it's leafless would be so much easier but not sure if it'll be worth it if the tree will produce too much water sprouts later.

[@JSacadura]

It depends on the tree's age and condition. In younger trees in good condition you can prune it in the summer and finish the job the same winter without fearing too many overgrowth (water sprouts). If the tree is older I would prune it only in the winter and its better to divide the pruning job over a couple of years to reduce stress. These trees in the video reacted quite well and they are beautiful now, in full bloom and producing again. I might include them in a future video to show the result.

[@ericrosales9722]

@@JSacadura The tree is about 20+ years old and has 3 trunks left, right, and center. The center is about 13-14" diameter and the two sides, which are both leaning about 45 degrees on each side, are about 12" dia..... The branches start at about 7 feet and plenty of giant water sprouts. My end goal is to eventually cut the 3 large trunks to about 5 ft height and develop new branches from there over a span of maybe 3 years or so. Do you think that's still possible for the said trunks to heal and close? If it doesnt fruit for a year or two, nobody would miss it really coz the fruits are substandard. Thanks so much for your inputs!

[@ericrosales9722]

@@JSacadura For old neglected apple and cherry trees around 20 years old, would it kill the tree if about 75% of the wood was removed during dormant season? Both trees are not producing useful fruits--the apple has bland sour fruits while the cherry is good but always cracks and gets infested with worms every year so nobody would miss the fruits even if it didnt appear for a couple of years. I plan to top-work both anyway so my only fear is the trees dying. Would they?

[@planetaverdejoya]

Genial

[@newgarden1176]

Super!!!

[@PainNoire]

Merci.

[@daisiesandroses5107]

Do you have a link to the stuff you painted over the stubs? I just moved into a house with unpruned fruit trees.

[@JSacadura]

Its a resin base pruning mastic (Arbokol). Unfortunately, I believe its only available in Europe, but there are several other brands that are similar.

[@daisiesandroses5107]

@@JSacadura Thank you! I'll have to find out what other methods people resort to in the US. Thank you for answering.

[@samishetwi9078]

Good job .

[@RadioRoxx.FM_90.1FM]

what should we do ore use if we avoid arbokol use???

[@JSacadura]

Your best option is to leave the pruning wounds uncovered. Modern studies show that most trees have their own means of covering wounds and do better without any artificial sealing products.

[@shkico4513]

2:35 "Recent studies don't recommend using covering materials any more". Can you elaborate, what studies and why? Should we just let wounds as they are?

[@JSacadura]

Here are some links regarding that issue: www.arboristnow.com/news/wound-paint-falling-out-of-favor www.researchgate.net/publication/238752200_Tree_care_a_new_look www.researchgate.net/publication/242620700_Wound_dressings_results_of_studies_over_13_years In most pruning, i don't cover small wounds anymore. In old trees, and larger wounds, i am still using some cover material, but a resin based one (not the black, petroleum based, that was common in the past), but try to use a very small layer only, so callus tissue can form easily.

[@Nopperaboo]

If you're not supposed to use anything to cover wounds on trees... Then... What to do?

[@JSacadura]

In most cases you can just let the wounds dry out for themselves. Most trees cure very well without help. Nevertheless, if long periods of rain are expected and the trees are quite old, I prefer to apply a light layer of a resin based pruning sealer.

[@vulk86]

Hero!

[@orsinurseryfruitco.5998]

Good music

[@mykvass]

my pear tree not producing fruit ? its 6-7 year sold , otherwise healthy

[@JSacadura]

Not all pear trees varieties are self-pollinating. It may need pollen from another pear variety to be able to fruit. If its a seedling (fruit tree obtained from seed) you might have to wait a few more years for fruit production. it might also lack the number of chill hours needed to produce fruit - Check my video on Grafting a LOW CHILL variety to know more about chill hours - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqGwoISNrtiemLs

[@mykvass]

@@JSacadura Thank You

[@kb3cxe]

Nice to watch but very difficult to read light green wording on green back ground. Thank you just the same. I'll try it on my old pare tree.

[@JSacadura]

You are right. At the time I didn't do voice overs and I used the same subtitle color in all my videos. in this one, it was not a good choice. I might redo the video, with a few updates and voiceover.

[@kb3cxe]

@@JSacadura Thank you. It was a nice video. I'm looking to find the best way to prune an old, neglected pare tree in our side yard. Nothing to loose, everything to gain. Thank you, Roland

[@rosarioriosmaestre7747]

👏👏👏👏👍🇪🇸

[@kentabyte]

What a butcher with chainsaw

[@ungarelli81]

As a certified fruit tree pruner, I must say, this was one of the WORST pruning techniques I've ever seen, especially from a "pro". This video should be taken down.

[@judeirwin2222]

This really needed some close ups, e.g. showing you heading/shortening good existing laterals to an outward-growing bud, removal of some of the smaller shoots, etc. Just using one viewpoint for the whole video limited its instructive value.

[@JSacadura]

Hi, Jude. Thanks for the comment. I didn't bother with those details in this video has I had done a previous one explaining and showing all those essential points. I didn't see the point of doing it all over again has the theme of the videos was different - the most important point was rejuvenating the trees, not learning pruning techniques. If you check my first pruning video "Pruning Fruit Trees | Pruning Techniques | Essential Pruning Course" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKbdmoargc6Inrs all those details are there.Also, in more recent pruning videos "Pruning Fruit Trees in the Home Orchard | A step by step video guide - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6TTd2uwrtdnprc, I change viewpoints and show more detail. All those videos are grouped in a Pruning Trees Playing list in my channel, so viewers that want to know more, can easily do so, by checking the other videos in that list.

[@personperson9841]

What is the spacing between trees ?

[@JSacadura]

I like to keep my trees small, so I keep the spacing pretty close and prune aggressively. These older trees are further apart, around 10 feet.

[@personperson9841]

@@JSacadura I have a small mix orchard with 10 by 13 feet spacing.trees branches starts at 3ft.i thought I left too much space.