When is the best time to prune apricot trees?

Apricot Tree Overview

Apricot tree is a deciduous tree, flowering from March to April, fruiting from June to July. It has strong adaptability to the environment, and has a certain degree of cold and high temperature resistance. It has low requirements for soil and can grow in clay, slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils, but is afraid of waterlogging. Do not over-water during maintenance, as accumulated water will easily cause root rot and death.

Apricot tree pruning time

Apricot trees are highly adaptable and can be pruned in spring, summer, autumn and winter, but the focus of pruning is different in different seasons.

It is generally best to prune apricot trees in May and June. You can keep the branches and tips with better angles, and then cut off the overgrown and redundant branches to help the trees bloom and bear fruit better.

Apricot trees grow vigorously in the summer and need timely pruning in mid-to-late June. Reasonable summer pruning can allow young trees to take shape quickly, which plays an important role in increasing the yield of first-fruit trees.

Apricot trees enter a dormant period in winter, and their vital movements are not very active. Pruning at this time will cause the least damage to the plants. Heavy pruning can be done in mid-December. Pruning in other seasons is also possible, but heavy pruning should not be done, otherwise it will easily cause damage to the plants, and in serious cases it will be difficult to recover.

Apricot tree pruning method

If the apricot tree is not growing well, it needs to be pruned back to remove the dense and thin branches, retain the strong branches, and reduce the loss of nutrients.

Apricot trees also need to be pruned during the fruit expansion period, mainly to increase the fruit setting rate. The new shoots need to be pinched several times. During the peak fruit-bearing period, pruning is required according to the specific conditions of the branches to ensure strong branches. Weak branches and side branches are cut back at this position. During the aging period, the main thing is to keep the strong branches and prune the side buds.

Precautions for pruning apricot trees

What you should pay attention to when pruning apricot trees in summer is: thinning out upright vigorous branches, overcrowded branches, thin and weak branches, crossed branches, overlapping branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, etc. on the back, improving the light inside the crown, and being careful not to expose the tree to strong light after pruning, and just maintain it in a well-ventilated semi-shaded place.