Cutting back new trees for winter?

16 years ago

I planted several pear and apple trees in the spring. I cut them all off at around 32" and no branches. For the most part the apples are about right for height. I have one Asian pear that hasn't done a whole lot. The seckel pear is over 6', the crisp n sweet pear is over 7' and the Olympic Giant is over 8'. I was wondering if they should be cut back some after the leaves fall off? My concern is if they may get damaged over the winter from being so tall and brake lower then I want to cut them. Then in the spring cut them back to where they really need to be.

Thanks

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Comments (5)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
16 years ago
jethro:

You can cut them back this fall if necessary. I'd probably wait until they start dropping leaves.

Is it the snow you are concerned about? I'm just wondering why you need to prune all that much. The more you prune at this stage the longer until the trees bear.
jethro75
Original Author
16 years ago
fruitnut:

Heavy snow as well as the freak ice storm that could possibly snap the leader off.

I was thinking as far as training where they say to select the scaffold branches you want and then the next year cut the leader back so far above the highest scaffold. I had also read where you should cut 1/4 to 1/3 off the end of the scaffolds branches.

I guess to clarify I am concerned about the three tall pears which have scaffold branches that are below where I had cut them off at(32"). Above that they have a leader that is 3-5' with no branching just leaves. From what I have read it recommends cutting to promote branching below the cut to set a new whorl of scaffolds.

I am always opened to recommendations.
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bucky130
16 years ago
Yeah gotta love those ice storms. Im from central pa and i know last year we had one that scared me. I was out shaking the ice out of the trees a few times so it didnt build up. Some of my leaders were bent over at least parallel with the ground. This year I did summer pruning on my long thin scaffolds that may not hold up to the ice.
blackrag
16 years ago
Thanks for bringing this up. I have 1st leaf apples that appear similar to how you describe your pears and while I have a game plan on each tree for late spring pruning from bottom up, I am also a bit confused what to do with a 24-36" central leader on about 9 trees even come spring. I did plan to leave them alone until that time since I don't want to upset them right before going to sleep. Having probably done some of that same reading, my plan was to do the same at 1/4-1/3. Perhaps it should have been addressed with early "summer pinching" as I did with all the leader's competitors. Chad
jethro75
Original Author
16 years ago
Just wondering if my second post above sound resonable? Does it make sense to cut them off a little when they go into dormancy? I just figured that since I am going to cut them back per the recomindations I found online if it makes sense to cut the leader above where I would cut in the spring?

Thanks