Pruning trained fruit trees

Reduce shoots to let in the sun and help fruits ripen

ALTHOUGH most fruit trees are pruned during the dormant months of autumn and winter, there are some that require trimming now to let light and air to their fruits to help them ripen healthily.

Trees that are fan trained, espaliered (with their branches growing at right angles to the trunk) or grown in any other restricted shape should be pruned now, leaving those grown as ‘normal’ standards to the winter months.

Trained trees are given a summer trim when the bottom third of this year’s new shoots have become firm and woody. For pear trees, this is usually from mid July, trained apples from early to midAugust, though in northern areas you may need to wait a week or so longer, depending on the weather.

New shoots that are more than 8in (20cm) long should be shortened to within three leaves of their base. Leave shorter shoots alone as they are likely to end in fruit buds for next year.

You should also remove any vigorously growing upright shoots, and be prepared to give your trees a second trim in September if there is a further untidy surge of growth.