Help with trimming decision on new Katy apricot tree

8 years ago

Hi everyone! I didn't realize there was a fruit tree forum (new here), so I posted this first in the Tree Forum but a member recommended I post it here:

I just planted this Katy Apricot five months ago before winter in Phoenix and it quickly lost its leaves for the winter (as planned). From reading online it seems that I should prune it before the buds break (I know some recommend pruning right after transplant but I didn't realize and didn't do that). The consensus is that stone fruit should be pruned in the open vase shape. I guess I'm trying to get a second opinion because it seems a little counter-productive to take a tree that is 7' tall and cut it back to knee height as many guides show in order to eventually build it back to the vase shape. Anyway, just wanted to get some feedback and increased understanding of what I'm doing before I operate (I can't find info on why stone fruit should be pruned this way). Any thoughts/experience are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Glad you took the advice to repost here :-) Fruit trees are NOT pruned in the same manner as ornamental trees are and pruning/training should begin while they are still quite young, ideally beginning at planting time, if they haven't been pruned previously by the grower.

You do not need to take it down to 'knee level' but you do want to open the interior.....that's how the vase shape is developed. And remove all those lower twiggy stubs coming off the trunk, generally anything within 18" of the ground.

It may seem counterproductive but it is not :-) Developing the proper form and growth habit for your tree is of far more importance than the early harvesting of fruit or maintaining a tree at a height that is currently not providing it much benefit.

This is approximately what your tree should look like after pruning (far left diagram):

garden web photos · More Info
Rick Overson
Original Author
8 years ago
okay, thanks so much! Will do!
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benfisher
8 years ago
You can open vase it higher, but then your fruit will be that much higher. Many rather pick the low hanging fruit. That has a nice scaffold up high that about rlines up with the top,of the wall behind in this photo.