Spring is on the way, and one of the first projects a gardener can work on is pruning fruit trees. Pruning is one of the best things you can do to maintain a tree's long-term health. Properly pruned fruit trees produce significantly more fruit.
Look for damaged, broken, densely entangled or dead branches. You can use a hand pruner, loppers, or even a saw. It is preferable for branches to spread out in a sideways direction; horizontal growth is the goal. Vertical branches should be cut.
The ideal time for pruning, Tom says, is from early February to early April, before the buds start to sprout.
You can hear Tips for Hardy Gardeners every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
