Pruning Peach and Plum Trees

Peach and plum trees are prone to diseases and often produce inconsistent yields.  The best way to remedy these issues is with proper pruning.  Annual pruning reduces disease incidence, improves fruit quality, and increases tree longevity.  So when should trees be pruned and how do we go about it?

Pruning Timing

Peach and plum trees should be pruned in late winter before blooming begins.  Mid- to late-February is a good time for the Florida panhandle.  If trees are pruned too early they may put on new growth too early and be exposed to late winter freeze events.

Heading cut made on a recently planted whip, selecting five scaffolds and stopping terminal growth. Photo Credit: David Lawrence, Auburn University

Pruning Cuts

Two types of pruning cuts are utilized for pruning peach and plum trees; thinning and heading cuts.  Thinning cuts remove unwanted shoots from their point of origin.  Heading cuts are made about a 1/4 inch above a bud.  Thinning cuts are used to open up the tree canopy to increase air circulation and sun exposure.  Heading cuts stimulate growth in a desired direction.

Heading cut made to an outward growing bud to promote growth and direction. Photo Credit: David Lawrence, Auburn University

Open Center Training

An open center tree consists of a main trunk and three to five scaffold branches.  Scaffold branches are the primary branches originating from the main trunk.  These scaffold branches will produce the fruiting wood.  At planting, a heading cut should be made to the main trunk about 30 inches above the soil line.  This cut will promote lateral growth (scaffolds).  If the tree already has lateral growth at planting, three to five scaffold branches can be selected at this time and the heading cut should be made just above these branches.  Scaffold branches will be selected during year two of growth if no scaffolds were on the tree at planting.  Heading cuts, removing about a 1/4 of each branch, should be made on all selected scaffold branch about a 1/4 inch above an outward growing bud.  From the third year of growth and beyond annual maintenance pruning will be performed to maintain the open center growth habit.  All damaged or diseased wood, suckers, and water sprouts should be removed.  Large branches growing from scaffold branches toward the center of the tree should be removed, along with any upright growth that will shade out fruiting shoots.  Downward growth should also be removed.  Heading cuts are to be made on remaining growth to encourage desired direction of growth based on bud direction.  Excessive fruit wood should be thinned to promote larger fruit and less fruit thinning.

A peach tree pruned with an open center. Photo Credit, University of Florida/IFAS Extension

Pruning peach and plum trees sounds a bit labor intensive, but once it’s part of routine maintenance it will reduce labor during the season and promote the growth of larger and better quality fruit.