This server is by far one of the best videos you have aberrant done. When my trees were little scrawny small. Once I gave them woodchips around the Bates for what Abba reason. They got broader in the trunk stronger, this worked for my trees.
As you mentioned, pruning can be a little scary at first, as you feel like you are hurting the tree. But once you break that barrier, I find it to be very enjoyable. Like you said, it becomes and art, as you shape the tree the way you want. I rather look forward to it now. Thanks again.
Thank you so much, after watching countless pruning videos, finally I found you...most show trees that have been maintained beautifully over the years in which they do more telling what they have done and not showing it. All my trees have been neglected because I was afraid to do anything, thinking I could take too much or hurt it in some way. After viewing this video, I finally possess the confidence and full understanding of what to do. Showing your trees before and after was an immense confidence booster. Today, I will go out and conquer my unruly fruit trees.
6 Trees I tackled today...and w/o and hesitation, thanks to you. You took the fear right out of it all. I have one more tree to do, it's a giant apple tree that's very old and never been pruned. I have felt so bad for her, even contacted our extension office to ask a master gardener for help, but no one came. after getting all the rest of my trees done this afternoon, I am ready to work on the old girl myself. Thanks again.
Best video I've watched on fruit tree pruning. Thanks so much! I now feel much more confident pruning my plum, peach & pear trees and leaving my fig & pomegranate alone.
I cannot thank you ENOUGH! I had no idea how to trim my pomegranate, peach, blood orange and apricot trees. This was the most informative video I couldve asked for!
"Growth node" real helpful I'm a complete novice so I have Tamarind and Guava trees that need some pruning, I have one Avocado, thanks for the valuable information.
K It Yes, I suppose it does. Still, I see many others asking to see the steps he took. I’m sure it’s not easy to decide what to include in one’s videos. It’s like anything else; the person sharing the info probably feels as if sharing every step would be mundane, or obvious. But it’s not obvious to everyone. I think we all do that. It’s a knowledge level perhaps. I appreciate the video regardless. But I also appreciate the videos that start from square one and show what’s happening all the way through until I get the hang of it myself. Then, even to me, videos of humble beginnings can become mundane. Add to that, that everyone has their own take on things. Nice chatting with you. Enjoy.
This is an amazing video! Thank you! I've actually watched several videos on your channel so far and have found every one of them very useful and interesting. Thank you for helping us become more educated, empowered and self sufficient in today's chemical world!
Very helpful and well organized. I planted 20 fruit trees from bare root 12 months ago with great success (most are over 11 feet tall). I started freaking out thinking about what I need to do to prune them. Your advice has been useful.
Thanks for all your advice, I purchased a number of dwarf fruit trees, apple, pear, plum and cherry, but they grow vigorously, which has annoyed me slightly first, however hopefully after viewing your pruning method I feel confident that I will be able to give attendance to them all and maybe even have more productive fruit tree's. On a slightly different note, I bought a fig which again has grown very large this past season, and I was about to remove it completely, as for the past 6 years since I purchased it, it has never had any figs on it at all, this is the first year it has nice sized figs, so maybe there's hope after all... Thanks again, and I look forward to more videos from you... Regards Richard.
I just found your channel and I want to thank you for sharing this amazing stuff! It is so important for us people to know how to grow stuff in this supermarket age. I'm sure I'm gonna use your tips! Thanks! Have a great day! :)
Fabulous video. Thank You!!! I am a new gardener and your video has transferred tremendous knowledge. In the Bay Area, planted 1 Pomegranate, 1 Fuji Apple and 1 Gala last Nov 2015. Had some apples this year but struggling a bit w Pomegranate....your video is a gift of knowledge.....Let me give it shot w pruning ideas you have shared. Thanks again....
Wow. Thank you!!! You've definitely helped make it less intimidating and actually doable! We moved into our house last summer and the pomegranate tree out front is just insane and I didn't know how to handle it. We have heavy clay soil here as well just 4 hours north of you in the piney woods of East Texas, so I'll be sure to use you higher planting method when I'm able to plant something myself! :)
i've seen a dozen or so videos on pruning fruit trees and this one by far is the most informative and no nonsense. Love the shaping diagrams. Thanks for this informative video.
Quick hint. You really need 2 of each tree so they can cross pollinate especially your Apple & Fig trees ; ) Loved yr video & advice very sound, thanks.
What a great video on pruning fruit trees. David and I were looking to prune a fig and found out that grooming it is all that a fig needs. However, I pumped into buying more fruit trees, i.e., cherries. YUM!
Absolutely loved your video! Thank you! It was great to finally see a variety of fruit trees, different techniques/pruning styles/shapes, etc. Great job!
Great video. I'm just getting into fruit tree cultivation for fun on my parents' property, and I live not far from Houston. Here in Central Texas we have fairly good drainage compared to Houston, but this last month of May 2015 has brought us a crazy amount rain that would have probably killed my new pomegranate tree had it been in the ground. It's still in a pot, and I will try your tree planting method in autumn for my pomegranate because they are a basically a desert plant that can't handle much rain.
I am also in Houston and very excited about watching more of your videos. The main thing I loved is the way you whack the height down for harvesting. I have a question about all my cherry trees and other fruit trees. Since I have not seen any cherries I am not sure how they bloom. I do prune in the winter, but then I'm cutting another 6" off the tips every 3 or so months. Am I ruining the fruit production doing this on the cherries and other peach type trees. I have Minnie Royal and Royal Lee Cherries, but they didn't even flower. Maybe they need the fertilizer you recommended, but I have read that cherries shouldn't need fertilizing. Thank you, Carol
very helpful. Thank you. My experience with a pomegranate tree trained as a tree was I pruned it early spring one year to get it out of my way while expanding a chicken coup. We had a late frost and it died to the ground. I then read they are a little more cold hardy as a bush rather than a tree. I'm letting it come back as a bush. Time will tell whether that is right or not. I question whether or not pruning trees in late winter in Texas is a good idea because it seems to stimulate growth if you have a few warm days which we usually do in Texas. And then that late freeze we always seem to get really tears them up. Just saying.
BEST pruning video Ive seen (& Ive seen a lot) THANKYOU!!!! Have you tried to espalier fruit trees yet? Your yard looks quite full, but you seem to have plenty of fences to espalier fruit trees along if you want more fruit trees,
thank you for the tip about not drowning the trees. Thank you for intelligently caring so much for the trees; it's in your voice, very pleasing. Thank you for the video, it's very concise, clear and full of good information without unnecessary talk, music or noise. Should we put medicine on larger prune cuts if we live in the tropics?
Excellent video! I'm going to RCW Nurseries tomorrow to buy some fruit trees! I'm sure I will have many more questions but I will view more of your videos, first. It's inspiring to know you're in Houston! Thanks!
This video is very helpful. Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated if you can share suggest some measure to protect the fruit trees from cold weather and snow, especially in the areas of New York City metropolitan areas and suburbs? Thanks
Good and clear video. I grow tropical fruit on the island of madagascar. I make the holes even bigger, and I make a mixture of 1 sand, 1 old cow dung humus, and 1 black earth.. for the pruning, totally my thoughts
I read the same thing about pears that you say about plums...that pears grow on spurs. But I don't see any spurs on your pear trees. However, my Hood Pear tree has them. I live in southern California in the desert, and that is one of the only pear types that will grow well here. My tree is 2 years old and we haven't had any pears yet. However, I do have spurs now. I don't think I had those before.
Wonderful lessons, do you have any advice on hazelnut trees (shrubs) and walnuts and chestnut trees? I got these last year and have no clue how or if to prune them?
I wish I had seen this video 9 years ago! With a property of 6 acres in Zone 7b of South Carolina, we had planted 2 apples, 2 peaches, 2 plums, 2 pears, 2 nectarines trees. A few years later, two apricot trees, and another apple. While one of our pear tree is over 16 ft tall, one apple tree over 12 feet tall, one peach tree over 10 feet tall, we have yet to eat any fruit! The peaches get loaded with peaches, the plums get loaded, the nectarines get loaded but the fruit never grow more than 6-8 inch in diameter. I am certain because they were never pruned. This video helps to some extent but I am afraid to prune: I had killed two loaded apple trees in another property while trying to prune them (the property was/is also mine). Thanks for sharing!
The way he explained it may not have been totally clear. I think he was relying on the visuals and since he knows what he's doing had attributed too much knowledge to the audience. The top most branch left behind just below a pruning point will have apical dominance generally, so whichever way it faces will be the direction of the main branch. If you prune above a major node that has multiple buds around it, you can get multiple branches form, of course, as with mango pruning.
m living in MN ( zone 4 B ). I got some Asian pear trees. I watched a lot of clips about pruning . I'm confusing about that. What's different between summer pruning and winter pruning ? which one for more fruit and which one for shape
I live in Baton Rouge and was told cherries won't grow in this zone. I see you're in Houston growing cherries. What variety do you have. Do they produce much fruit?
thank you very much for that information on how pruning ,fruit tree it was help full .i will pruning mine .hope my fruit tree grow in houston texas .sherry
LDSPrepper I heard in Houston RCW nursery (on Tomball pkwy) they have several avocado varieties that are hardy to 14 degrees. I'm guessing you wouldn't have to cover them in the winter once established.
I would love to have an avacado tree too but I heard the the tree can have huge, invasive roots. How can I prevent this? Can pruning help somehow? Thanks
Best video I have seen! Thank you. Question if you have time? We just bought a home that has mature fruit trees. Applex3 and cherryx2 but they are like shade trees. They were not kept up and we trimmed some last year early spring. ( in northern Utah) do you know if I should top the top of three and thin out the base and let new branches closer to the ground grow? Or plan new ones else where on our land and chop these ones down when the new ones bare good fruit? The tree base is about 5ft high then branches.
Another great video, although I would suggest that the healthy pruned limbs (like the ones that were crossing) might be more valuable if you sectioned and rooted them in small pots to make clones to share or sell. More fruit trees is better, and you can use the excess or unhealthy ones for fuel.
I'm not sure how successful you can be trying to root new fruit trees from cuttings...you might have better luck doing grafts with those rather than trying to get them to root with rooting hormones.
David, very good video. I'm new at caring for a large variety of fruit trees. Most are dwarf varieties, does that change as far as pruning the way your video shows? Thanks Maria
Great! Very well done. Dang it, I just pruned all my fruit trees about a week ago and forgot to make a video, but I think you pretty well nailed all I would say. Have you ever tried grafting your pruned material? I have one peach tree that died back and is now growing in a fan pattern (two opposing leaders), and I would like to encourage it or manipulate it to be more of a vase. What about rooting the cuttings as a hardwood cutting? I just pruned my grapes and potted up about 50 cuttings. Here's to hoping it works! I wanted to ask, what variety of cherry trees are those? I was of the understanding that we don't have enough chill hours down here for cherry trees, so I have not planted any.
hey David, like you i live in Houston and i did my fruit tree pruning last week. My Anna apple seems to have woken up because of the pruning and it's now flowering, should I be concerned about those blooms getting damaged by the cold nights? Thank you for all your great videos.
Hi LDS, Love your video. I have 2 of each, Apple, Nectarine, Avocado, Pomegranate, that I am growing for the root stock, because they wont come to be true, so I half to graft them. I see you have also these varieties, do you think I could buy just maybe 2 scion wood of each of your tree's to graft onto my tree's? I saw that you burn the scion you prune and said " NO, lol." Please, Please, Please, I live in MN and there is no one with the same trees I am growing to get scion wood from and I really don't Know where to get scion, I have google, You Tube, called nurseries, no one can tell me any answers. I also have Kiwi, Orange and Peach Trees, they are all 1 year old and are ready for me to graft then, but still do not know what to do or where to find the scion. If you will not sell me any cuttings, is there any suggestions you could help me with, or steer me in some direction? Thank You for your time and take care of those beautiful baby's. Suzanne
Hi Tim~ Try the Tropical Fruit Forum (.com). There are plenty of people trading/selling scions for various fruit trees on there. No worries finding what you need. Best regards, Chris
I have 2 apple trees in my front yard, only have had apples from 1 of the trees in 13 years, I have been pruning them aggressively every January, but not sure why we haven't had the yield you speak of? When do you recommend pruning? I live in Pennsylvania
HELP!!! I am located Columbus, IN (Zone 6A). I have planted 2 pears 1 peach at my back yard this past fall 2017, that i did buy by my local Lowes. I did not know what I was doing until I have watch your videos, so I went carefully yesterday and dig out the trees and the roots had spreed very tiny bit, so I dig more around and dip put organic soil and manure mix with the native clay soil. I planted the trees higher also. I also did put mulch around. I do hope this will not stress the trees. My question now is should I prune the pears threes, because has I few long branches or should wait for fall? I feel the peach doesn't need prune. Hope I did right to replant the trees. Thank you for your attention!
Young peach trees need to have an open central prune. Then you leave four or three scaffold branches and apply "tira savia" prune. The same with pears.
This is a wonderful video. I have learned so much,especially how to prepare the ground for planting fruit trees. Where do you purchase your fruit trees?
Excellent video and thank you for sharing. I am thinking of getting some trees this spring and if I understood you right I should get 2 of each type for pollination or would you suggest more?
Wow, my dream backyard..I have two varieties of fig and two pomegranate. I also have a peach, plum, and cherry. I think figs like, and do better when pruned. I live in slc, ut. so I have to cover my figs from cold freeze. Wish I lived in Houston, you have the dream location for growing. Are you LDS? Thanks for great vid.
Thanks Mormon Dood! I live in Spokane, WA. Home of the team that beat BYU and lost to them, while going to the Big Dance...Basketball that is! GONZAGA! I became LDS in Ketchikan, AK. in 1970, and I now have three multi species fruit trees...Two 5 way Apple, and a three way Cherry. Shall I let them alone for the first year, before training them? If so, what fertilizer should I feed them, in a rocky sandy soil? I have learned that baby diapers have that water retaining gel in them, and so I mix a diaper and 3/4 load of potting soil in a 5 gallon bucket. Before placing the tree in the ground, I throw two shovels of the gel soil mix, fill in the hole with the planting soil and place the tree trunk just at ground level, and give them a healthy bucket of root stimulator.. What'cha think about my plan and techniques? HELP! Signed...The Coast Guard Missionary! 1970-1978!
I have an apple tree that produced a lot of fruit this year, but it didn't seem to have developed very well. Most of the branches were small and curled from the weight. The tree seems very weak compared to the one next to it. I pruned off the curled branches, but those had all the fruit spurs. How long until my tree will grow new spurs? I'm very new at this and was hoping to promote grow for the tree. Thanks
We planted 2 cherry tree's last year, my question is we planted one in the front yard and one in the back yard and then our neighbor has a fully mature tree. Will they be pollinated alright with one in the front and one in the back! Thanks!
I don't know if they are air pollinated or insect pollinated. That would be a good question to ask where you bought the trees. I'd like to know too. When you find out please post here.
LDSPrepper Cherry trees that are self-fruitful, also known as self-pollinated or self-fertile, do not require another cultivar of tree to produce cherries. Self-incompatible, or self-unfruitful, trees require another variety of cherry tree in order to produce cherries. Sour cherry trees are self-pollinated. Most sweet cherry trees are self-incompatible, I hope I don't have to move a tree!
1994abbygirl If you have any other cherry trees around, insects will do the job...they'll find them. You can attract bees and butterflies with other flowers near the trees.
This server is by far one of the best videos you have aberrant done. When my trees were little scrawny small. Once I gave them woodchips around the Bates for what Abba reason. They got broader in the trunk stronger, this worked for my trees.
You certainly know what your talking about.
Although I may be a little biased as your pruning methods and philosophies are identical to mine.
As you mentioned, pruning can be a little scary at first, as you feel like you are hurting the tree. But once you break that barrier, I find it to be very enjoyable. Like you said, it becomes and art, as you shape the tree the way you want. I rather look forward to it now. Thanks again.
Thank you so much, after watching countless pruning videos, finally I found you...most show trees that have been maintained beautifully over the years in which they do more telling what they have done and not showing it. All my trees have been neglected because I was afraid to do anything, thinking I could take too much or hurt it in some way. After viewing this video, I finally possess the confidence and full understanding of what to do. Showing your trees before and after was an immense confidence booster. Today, I will go out and conquer my unruly fruit trees.
kim McCoy I'm so glad this video was helpful to you. That is exactly the reason I make my videos. Thank you for making my day.
6 Trees I tackled today...and w/o and hesitation, thanks to you. You took the fear right out of it all. I have one more tree to do, it's a giant apple tree that's very old and never been pruned. I have felt so bad for her, even contacted our extension office to ask a master gardener for help, but no one came. after getting all the rest of my trees done this afternoon, I am ready to work on the old girl myself. Thanks again.
kim McCoy
How'd it go? Did your apple trees get healthier/bear more fruit?
I would like to know how it turned out as well!
Actually, they all are beautiful, producing loads of fruit. I prune them every year now and have them all looking beautiful
Thank you for a video that actually explains they why and how both rather than just demonstrating the how.
Best video I've watched on fruit tree pruning. Thanks so much! I now feel much more confident pruning my plum, peach & pear trees and leaving my fig & pomegranate alone.
I cannot thank you ENOUGH! I had no idea how to trim my pomegranate, peach, blood orange and apricot trees. This was the most informative video I couldve asked for!
"Growth node" real helpful I'm a complete novice so I have Tamarind and Guava trees that need some pruning, I have one Avocado, thanks for the valuable information.
People want to SEE you prune the tree. I should say "we" want to SEE you make each decision so we can learn. Thanks.
From the picture, it looks like he just topped it off.
K It
Yes, I suppose it does. Still, I see many others asking to see the steps he took.
I’m sure it’s not easy to decide what to include in one’s videos. It’s like anything else; the person sharing the info probably feels as if sharing every step would be mundane, or obvious. But it’s not obvious to everyone. I think we all do that. It’s a knowledge level perhaps.
I appreciate the video regardless. But I also appreciate the videos that start from square one and show what’s happening all the way through until I get the hang of it myself. Then, even to me, videos of humble beginnings can become mundane.
Add to that, that everyone has their own take on things.
Nice chatting with you. Enjoy.
CheriByGrace yes your reply makes sense! Thanks & have a good day 😊
This is an amazing video! Thank you! I've actually watched several videos on your channel so far and have found every one of them very useful and interesting. Thank you for helping us become more educated, empowered and self sufficient in today's chemical world!
Very helpful and well organized. I planted 20 fruit trees from bare root 12 months ago with great success (most are over 11 feet tall). I started freaking out thinking about what I need to do to prune them. Your advice has been useful.
Wow! 12 months 11 feet!? I have a cocktail tree we planted 2 years ago and its still only about 4 feet tall. I have so much to learn :)
A time lapse video of you trimming your trees would be awesome to see!
Thanks for all your advice, I purchased a number of dwarf fruit trees, apple, pear, plum and cherry, but they grow vigorously, which has annoyed me slightly first, however hopefully after viewing your pruning method I feel confident that I will be able to give attendance to them all and maybe even have more productive fruit tree's. On a slightly different note, I bought a fig which again has grown very large this past season, and I was about to remove it completely, as for the past 6 years since I purchased it, it has never had any figs on it at all, this is the first year it has nice sized figs, so maybe there's hope after all...
Thanks again, and I look forward to more videos from you... Regards Richard.
I just found your channel and I want to thank you for sharing this amazing stuff! It is so important for us people to know how to grow stuff in this supermarket age. I'm sure I'm gonna use your tips! Thanks! Have a great day! :)
Fabulous video. Thank You!!! I am a new gardener and your video has transferred tremendous knowledge. In the Bay Area, planted 1 Pomegranate, 1 Fuji Apple and 1 Gala last Nov 2015. Had some apples this year but struggling a bit w Pomegranate....your video is a gift of knowledge.....Let me give it shot w pruning ideas you have shared. Thanks again....
Wow. Thank you!!! You've definitely helped make it less intimidating and actually doable! We moved into our house last summer and the pomegranate tree out front is just insane and I didn't know how to handle it. We have heavy clay soil here as well just 4 hours north of you in the piney woods of East Texas, so I'll be sure to use you higher planting method when I'm able to plant something myself! :)
Excellent video! Great pictures of the trees pruned in different stages
i've seen a dozen or so videos on pruning fruit trees and this one by far is the most informative and no nonsense. Love the shaping diagrams. Thanks for this informative video.
Quick hint. You really need 2 of each tree so they can cross pollinate especially your Apple & Fig trees ; ) Loved yr video & advice very sound, thanks.
Exactly the video I was looking for, concise & to the point. Thank you sir 😁
avocado and citrus have sensitive bark that can sunburn easily, they depend on their canopy to shade the limbs.
What a great video on pruning fruit trees. David and I were looking to prune a fig and found out that grooming it is all that a fig needs. However, I pumped into buying more fruit trees, i.e., cherries. YUM!
Thank you for the guide! I am new to this stuff and have in ways inherited a huge orchard so all of this advice has been very helpful, thanks again!
Absolutely loved your video! Thank you! It was great to finally see a variety of fruit trees, different techniques/pruning styles/shapes, etc. Great job!
Thank you! This is very helpful!!! I needed information on how to prune the several kinds of fruit trees.
Great video. I'm just getting into fruit tree cultivation for fun on my parents' property, and I live not far from Houston. Here in Central Texas we have fairly good drainage compared to Houston, but this last month of May 2015 has brought us a crazy amount rain that would have probably killed my new pomegranate tree had it been in the ground.
It's still in a pot, and I will try your tree planting method in autumn for my pomegranate because they are a basically a desert plant that can't handle much rain.
very informative! Better than most videos, now i finally understand how to prune my fruit trees. Thanks 👍🏼
I am also in Houston and very excited about watching more of your videos. The main thing I loved is the way you whack the height down for harvesting.
I have a question about all my cherry trees and other fruit trees. Since I have not seen any cherries I am not sure how they bloom. I do prune in the winter, but then I'm cutting another 6" off the tips every 3 or so months. Am I ruining the fruit production doing this on the cherries and other peach type trees. I have Minnie Royal and Royal Lee Cherries, but they didn't even flower. Maybe they need the fertilizer you recommended, but I have read that cherries shouldn't need fertilizing.
Thank you, Carol
very helpful. Thank you. My experience with a pomegranate tree trained as a tree was I pruned it early spring one year to get it out of my way while expanding a chicken coup. We had a late frost and it died to the ground. I then read they are a little more cold hardy as a bush rather than a tree. I'm letting it come back as a bush. Time will tell whether that is right or not. I question whether or not pruning trees in late winter in Texas is a good idea because it seems to stimulate growth if you have a few warm days which we usually do in Texas. And then that late freeze we always seem to get really tears them up. Just saying.
BEST pruning video Ive seen (& Ive seen a lot) THANKYOU!!!!
Have you tried to espalier fruit trees yet? Your yard looks quite full, but you seem to have plenty of fences to espalier fruit trees along if you want more fruit trees,
thank you for the tip about not drowning the trees. Thank you for intelligently caring so much for the trees; it's in your voice, very pleasing. Thank you for the video, it's very concise, clear and full of good information without unnecessary talk, music or noise. Should we put medicine on larger prune cuts if we live in the tropics?
I love the idea of using a reciprocal saw! I like that you call the wood blade a limb saw lol. Alchohol is a good touch.
Excellent video! I'm going to RCW Nurseries tomorrow to buy some fruit trees! I'm sure I will have many more questions but I will view more of your videos, first. It's inspiring to know you're in Houston! Thanks!
Thank you so much : a lot of info that my husband and I will be doing a lot of pruning of our Pear, Pomegranate and Plum tree in the spring :)
This video is very helpful. Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated if you can share suggest some measure to protect the fruit trees from cold weather and snow, especially in the areas of New York City metropolitan areas and suburbs? Thanks
Good and clear video. I grow tropical fruit on the island of madagascar. I make the holes even bigger, and I make a mixture of 1 sand, 1 old cow dung humus, and 1 black earth.. for the pruning, totally my thoughts
Thank you for your helpful tutorial. I appreciate it! Cheers from Southern California, USA!
Thank you, you have made it easy for me to understand pruning easier
Great video thank you. You explained things very well. Thank you.
Excellent information. I really like this video because it's very informative without being too chatty. Now, I'm off to prune!
Dude! Your videos are awesome!
Great video, very important explanation and tips. Thank you.
+Luis Magro Thank you for commenting and viewing.
Luis Magro u
Luis Magro
this was super helpful, even in 2017. thank you kind sir
I read the same thing about pears that you say about plums...that pears grow on spurs. But I don't see any spurs on your pear trees. However, my Hood Pear tree has them. I live in southern California in the desert, and that is one of the only pear types that will grow well here. My tree is 2 years old and we haven't had any pears yet. However, I do have spurs now. I don't think I had those before.
Thank you! This video is so informative and so clear! Definitely bookmarked!
Wonderful lessons, do you have any advice on hazelnut trees (shrubs) and walnuts and chestnut trees? I got these last year and have no clue how or if to prune them?
I wish I had seen this video 9 years ago! With a property of 6 acres in Zone 7b of South Carolina, we had planted 2 apples, 2 peaches, 2 plums, 2 pears, 2 nectarines trees. A few years later, two apricot trees, and another apple. While one of our pear tree is over 16 ft tall, one apple tree over 12 feet tall, one peach tree over 10 feet tall, we have yet to eat any fruit! The peaches get loaded with peaches, the plums get loaded, the nectarines get loaded but the fruit never grow more than 6-8 inch in diameter. I am certain because they were never pruned. This video helps to some extent but I am afraid to prune: I had killed two loaded apple trees in another property while trying to prune them (the property was/is also mine). Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this video. I have 3 apple tees but they are all fairly small. I also have a peach tree that I need to do some pruning on.
Could you explain a bit more how the direction you cut the branch affect the way it grows later? I'm a little confused. Thank you!
The way he explained it may not have been totally clear. I think he was relying on the visuals and since he knows what he's doing had attributed too much knowledge to the audience. The top most branch left behind just below a pruning point will have apical dominance generally, so whichever way it faces will be the direction of the main branch. If you prune above a major node that has multiple buds around it, you can get multiple branches form, of course, as with mango pruning.
m living in MN ( zone 4 B ). I got some Asian pear trees. I watched a lot of clips about pruning .
I'm confusing about that.
What's different between summer pruning and winter pruning ? which one for more fruit and which one for shape
Very good video. I’ve got a clue now about pruning.
I live in Baton Rouge and was told cherries won't grow in this zone. I see you're in Houston growing cherries. What variety do you have. Do they produce much fruit?
thank you very much for that information on how pruning ,fruit tree it was help full .i will pruning mine .hope my fruit tree grow in houston texas .sherry
I enjoyed the video. Couldn't find a link to the fertilizer you referenced. Thanks
HI there. Can you tell me how you can grow an avocado tree in Houston. doesn't it not freeze there?. what is the coldest it gets there?
Marsha B I cover the avocado tree December 1st each year to protect it from the cold and uncover it April 1st.
Thank you for your help. I have been told that there are cold hardy avocado trees now days. is yours a cold hardy one?
LDSPrepper I heard in Houston RCW nursery (on Tomball pkwy) they have several avocado varieties that are hardy to 14 degrees. I'm guessing you wouldn't have to cover them in the winter once established.
Hello. Did you get any fruit from the avocado tree?
Excellent video.
And very professionally made.
I would love to have an avacado tree too but I heard the the tree can have huge, invasive roots. How can I prevent this? Can pruning help somehow? Thanks
Best video I have seen! Thank you. Question if you have time? We just bought a home that has mature fruit trees. Applex3 and cherryx2 but they are like shade trees. They were not kept up and we trimmed some last year early spring. ( in northern Utah) do you know if I should top the top of three and thin out the base and let new branches closer to the ground grow? Or plan new ones else where on our land and chop these ones down when the new ones bare good fruit? The tree base is about 5ft high then branches.
I see you posted 4 years ago... still No answer... I'm curious how are your trees now?
Another great video, although I would suggest that the healthy pruned limbs (like the ones that were crossing) might be more valuable if you sectioned and rooted them in small pots to make clones to share or sell. More fruit trees is better, and you can use the excess or unhealthy ones for fuel.
Agreed! I was thinking the same thing.
I'm not sure how successful you can be trying to root new fruit trees from cuttings...you might have better luck doing grafts with those rather than trying to get them to root with rooting hormones.
Thank you, you have helped me. I am planning on a fruit tree. wish me luck.
David, very good video. I'm new at caring for a large variety of fruit trees. Most are dwarf varieties, does that change as far as pruning the way your video shows? Thanks Maria
I prune my dwarfs the same way.
Thanks David that was really helpful.
Great! Very well done. Dang it, I just pruned all my fruit trees about a week ago and forgot to make a video, but I think you pretty well nailed all I would say. Have you ever tried grafting your pruned material? I have one peach tree that died back and is now growing in a fan pattern (two opposing leaders), and I would like to encourage it or manipulate it to be more of a vase. What about rooting the cuttings as a hardwood cutting? I just pruned my grapes and potted up about 50 cuttings. Here's to hoping it works!
I wanted to ask, what variety of cherry trees are those? I was of the understanding that we don't have enough chill hours down here for cherry trees, so I have not planted any.
very good information. I need to know what month is beter to prun apple end orange tree
Curious why you would not toss a bit of fertilizer into the hole before planting?
Wow... Good job, David. I'm sure with this info I will be able to prune my fruit trees. Thanks for sharing!!! :-)
hey David, like you i live in Houston and i did my fruit tree pruning last week. My Anna apple seems to have woken up because of the pruning and it's now flowering, should I be concerned about those blooms getting damaged by the cold nights? Thank you for all your great videos.
Hi LDS, Love your video. I have 2 of each, Apple, Nectarine, Avocado, Pomegranate, that I am growing for the root stock, because they wont come to be true, so I half to graft them. I see you have also these varieties, do you think I could buy just maybe 2 scion wood of each of your tree's to graft onto my tree's? I saw that you burn the scion you prune and said " NO, lol." Please, Please, Please, I live in MN and there is no one with the same trees I am growing to get scion wood from and I really don't Know where to get scion, I have google, You Tube, called nurseries, no one can tell me any answers. I also have Kiwi, Orange and Peach Trees, they are all 1 year old and are ready for me to graft then, but still do not know what to do or where to find the scion. If you will not sell me any cuttings, is there any suggestions you could help me with, or steer me in some direction? Thank You for your time and take care of those beautiful baby's. Suzanne
Hi Tim~ Try the Tropical Fruit Forum (.com). There are plenty of people trading/selling scions for various fruit trees on there. No worries finding what you need. Best regards, Chris
I have 2 apple trees in my front yard, only have had apples from 1 of the trees in 13 years, I have been pruning them aggressively every January, but not sure why we haven't had the yield you speak of? When do you recommend pruning? I live in Pennsylvania
Such a great video! Thank you for posting.
What about suckers at the base of an avocado? Would I remove them? And are they robbing life from the tree?
HELP!!! I am located Columbus, IN (Zone 6A). I have planted 2 pears 1 peach at my back yard this past fall 2017, that i did buy by my local Lowes. I did not know what I was doing until I have watch your videos, so I went carefully yesterday and dig out the trees and the roots had spreed very tiny bit, so I dig more around and dip put organic soil and manure mix with the native clay soil. I planted the trees higher also. I also did put mulch around. I do hope this will not stress the trees. My question now is should I prune the pears threes, because has I few long branches or should wait for fall? I feel the peach doesn't need prune. Hope I did right to replant the trees. Thank you for your attention!
Young peach trees need to have an open central prune. Then you leave four or three scaffold branches and apply "tira savia" prune. The same with pears.
Can you apply these principals to multi graph trees? I ask because there is no true central leader
Did you move out of Texas? We just wanted a update?We went and purchased apple and peach trees from urban harvest here in Houston. So did you move?
Yes, we moved 2-1/2 years ago to Idaho.
LDSPrepper oh no we loved your videos! We were hoping to get updates on your trees 😊
Thank you for the video. Curious about your compacted tree pattern. Is it not a concern for the root paths crossing from one tree to the next?
Excellent video! Very informative.
Thanks. Learned some technics from you.
About the fig, what do you mean by sculb it? I tried to google sculb / sculp a tree but couldn't find anything on that?
WhT if tilling the soil and mixing before you transplant does more damage than help over time
This is a wonderful video. I have learned so much,especially how to prepare the ground for planting fruit trees. Where do you purchase your fruit trees?
Avocado in Houston what part of Houston i would like to talk to you more about this and get more information
Excellent video and thank you for sharing. I am thinking of getting some trees this spring and if I understood you right I should get 2 of each type for pollination or would you suggest more?
you covered all of my trees but Peach Thank You
Wow, my dream backyard..I have two varieties of fig and two pomegranate. I also have a peach, plum, and cherry. I think figs like, and do better when pruned. I live in slc, ut. so I have to cover my figs from cold freeze. Wish I lived in Houston, you have the dream location for growing. Are you LDS? Thanks for great vid.
oh u live in houston too! i need to know you personally for issues with my gardening. :D have u ever heard of apple trees bearing any fruit in texas?
Good pruning shears yes.. now go get some
Thanks Mormon Dood! I live in Spokane, WA. Home of the team that beat BYU and lost to them, while going to the Big Dance...Basketball that is! GONZAGA! I became LDS in Ketchikan, AK. in 1970, and I now have three multi species fruit trees...Two 5 way Apple, and a three way Cherry. Shall I let them alone for the first year, before training them? If so, what fertilizer should I feed them, in a rocky sandy soil? I have learned that baby diapers have that water retaining gel in them, and so I mix a diaper and 3/4 load of potting soil in a 5 gallon bucket. Before placing the tree in the ground, I throw two shovels of the gel soil mix, fill in the hole with the planting soil and place the tree trunk just at ground level, and give them a healthy bucket of root stimulator.. What'cha think about my plan and techniques? HELP! Signed...The Coast Guard Missionary! 1970-1978!
Very good information, again! Thanks, David for all that you do. Do you recommend pruning in the Spring or Fall/Winter?
Anytime after the trees have gone dormant and before they bud in the Spring.
I have an apple tree that produced a lot of fruit this year, but it didn't seem to have developed very well. Most of the branches were small and curled from the weight. The tree seems very weak compared to the one next to it. I pruned off the curled branches, but those had all the fruit spurs. How long until my tree will grow new spurs? I'm very new at this and was hoping to promote grow for the tree. Thanks
David Sturgeon that tree in question was to sick to save.. trees will always benefit from proper pruning. Is this the column that you want to cut?
MrXinsizionx apple trees bare fruiting spurs in 2 year old wood
Excellent ,down to earth.
As to the pruning question of which to cut; I say the lower one, in the long run you'll get a better yield out of the higher branch. (IMO)
Great video, best yet
Great info. Thanks
Awesome video, 😀
Off topic, do you have ant issues with your bees ?
Excellent video, sir!
We planted 2 cherry tree's last year, my question is we planted one in the front yard and one in the back yard and then our neighbor has a fully mature tree. Will they be pollinated alright with one in the front and one in the back! Thanks!
I don't know if they are air pollinated or insect pollinated. That would be a good question to ask where you bought the trees. I'd like to know too. When you find out please post here.
LDSPrepper Cherry trees that are self-fruitful, also known as self-pollinated or self-fertile, do not require another cultivar of tree to produce cherries. Self-incompatible, or self-unfruitful, trees require another variety of cherry tree in order to produce cherries. Sour cherry trees are self-pollinated. Most sweet cherry trees are self-incompatible, I hope I don't have to move a tree!
1994abbygirl If you have any other cherry trees around, insects will do the job...they'll find them. You can attract bees and butterflies with other flowers near the trees.
Yes, there is one in the back yard and one next door! Thanks for the info!
Great video, learned a lot.
Great video, thanks for all the good intel