Pruning Apricot Tree

20 years ago

I am pruning my Apricot Tree.

Do I cut behind or infront of the bud.

Is it possible to prune,to decrease the amount of fruit.

Can I prune so the fruit is in the one spot.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

User
20 years ago
Now is the perfect time to prune your apricot tree. The basics are to cut new growth (you should be able to detect this by the difference in colour) back by half..in front of the bud. Also remove any dead wood and damaged areas. Try to prune the tree to a 'vase' shape to keep the centre open for circulation and light.

If you want to keep your tree smaller you can tip prune later to stop end growth.

You really can't make the tree fruit in one spot, but by keeping it smaller you can control your crop. I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't want every single apricot that you could lay your hands on....but that's just me (I love apricots.)

Cheers,
Dee.
nemo
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for your response Dee.
I know you must think I am mad.
A lot of our fruit trees have gone haywire after 10years of drought. My beautiful Apricot Tree,now bears tasteless fruit,and I don't know if it is a coincedence but we now have fruit fly. So between the flies,the ants and the birds,
I would rather have the beautiful tree with no fruit,it is sad, because the apricots were delicious.
Related Discussions
Summer Pruning Stone Fruits
Q
Comments (13)
This is mainly a California issue, perhaps, but might apply elsewhere: (from the UC Ag. and Natrl. Res. site) "Apricots and cherries can have a fairly short lifespan in many climate zones in California due to a disease called Eutypa. This disease is able to invade through pruning wounds especially during the wet winter months. This disease causes limbs or twigs to wilt and die suddenly in late spring or summer with the leaves still attached. The bark may appear dark with an amber colored gumming on the branches. To combat the disease and reduce the potential for Eutypa to infect trees, you should begin pruning your apricot and cherry trees during the later part of summer and early fall at least 4-6 weeks prior to rainfall. However, realize that you may be opening your trees to sunburn with summer pruning so be sure to paint exposed branches with a diluted white latex housepaint with 50:50 water to paint mix. Also avoid pruning if you are going to have an extended period of 100 degree plus weather. " Think "fireblight" for stone fruits. When living in So. Cal. many years back I also used to prune my peach tree during the dormant season without any problems. So far I've done the same here where it is much damper and I see no problems. Yet. But I do try to do most cherry and apricot pruning during the summer. This is not really an ideal climate for either (or peaches, for that matter) so I'm trying not to push my luck. This post was edited by steve_in_los_osos on Sat, Aug 3, 13 at 14:43
...See More
Hope for severely pruned apricot tree?
Q
Comments (4)
Well, obviously that tree doesn't want to die! There's going to be a lot of lush, thick new growth that will have to be dealt with, but much of it is going to be higher than eight feet. It would be easier to keep it at 12 feet, though, and that's a manageable height. Either way it's going to take a lot of direction and correction. As for the one in the background, I think it wants about 50% of the green removed, but I may be wrong- it might be as high as 75%! But I'll let somebody who knows what they're talking about address it in more detail. It looks to me like somebody whacked it off pretty hard three years ago or so and now it's past ready to be simplified and put to use. What about that young growth in the foreground of the picture? If that's a sucker from the first tree (the one that is so severely cut back) it might well be fruiting in two or three years, and could be a well-behaved alternative to keeping the bigger tree, which is going to take a lot of work. I may be out of my depth here, and others should know to say so, but that's the way I see it for the moment. Good luck, Mark You have a lot of material to work with, so be prepared to haul off a lot of waste.
...See More
When to prune Apricot tree in the UK
Q
Comments (1)
Is it a bush or fan trained tree? My RHS book on pruning says November to February for bush trees (they include Apricots under Peaches and Nectarines) For fan trained trees (under fourth and subsequent years: Nov to Feb: Prune by one quarter those leaders tha tneed to produce more growth to fill out the framework. July to Aug if tree has occupied all available height stop the extension shoots by pinching out growing tips That seems to be it: The title of the book is Pruning by Christopher Brickell and it is part of The Royal horticultural Society's Encyclopaedia of Practical gardening and was published in 1979 (my edition is 1981 by Book Club Associates No ISBN The other part thatI have is on Propagation... these are really useful books!
...See More
Can I prune Apricot Tree ROOTS?
Q
Comments (1)
Snipping the tips of the roots when planting a bare root tree can help stimulate the tree to push out more roots at the pruned point. It can help with badly root bound trees to encourage the roots to splay out also. So yes, you can prune the roots however if your aim is to get the tree to flower again, that won't happen this season. It's done flowering and probably won't bear any fruit for the new 2-3 years while the root structure is growing into its new home and the branching structure is establishing. I'm sure it will flower next year but the likelihood of seeing any fruit is slim.
...See More
Related Professionals
Corpus Christi Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chicago Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Canton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Richmond Landscape Contractors · Springfield Landscape Contractors · Lynchburg Landscape Contractors · Davenport Landscape Contractors · Boise Landscape Contractors · Rome Architects & Building Designers · Middlesboro Architects & Building Designers · Aberdeen Architects & Building Designers · Zanesville Architects & Building Designers · Enid Architects & Building Designers · Greenfield Architects & Building Designers · Aberdeen Architects & Building Designers
richary
19 years ago
We moved into a house in Adelaide with an old Apricot tree in the backyard. It could be as old as the house (about 15 years) and I suspect has never been looked after.

Last year it produced quite a bit of fruit but it wasn't that tasty. The thing is obviously in need of a good prune - it is about 6-8m tall and wide and going in all directions. Many of the branches are quite thick and old, but it still produced a lot of fruit.

Any suggestions on how to get into it and where to cut. The trunk splits out into a few main branches about 1.5m off the ground, which then split another 1m out. I am thinking around this area leaving a few longer branches could be the point to go to.
redloh1999
17 years ago
My daughter planted an apricot tree a few years ago I was in California for the past 5 years and she did not care for it it has grown out of control how do I prune it to get it to a managable size
redloh1999
17 years ago
WHERE WOULD i START PRUNING AND WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT
mervtraeger_yahoo_com_au
15 years ago
When is the bgest time to prune the tree.
reneelongmire_hotmail_com
15 years ago
June is about the right time to prune your Apricot Tree.. I generally do my roses at the same time =)

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Apricots

By Marianne Lipanovich

Velvety fruit, pretty blossoms and interesting bark make apricot trees a delight — and they’re great for smaller gardens

Full Story

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

Full Story

130

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Got Frost-Damaged Plants? How It Happens, and When and How to Prune

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Don’t rush to cut back brown, brittle growth after a freeze

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS Grow Plum Hybrids for Your Favorite Fruit Flavors

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plums are cozying up with apricots, peaches and even cherries — here’s how to grow these hybrids for the best aspects of each

Full Story

CALIFORNIA GARDENING California Gardener's July Checklist

By Bill Marken

Bite into tree-fresh apricots, inhale delightful garden perfumes and continue planting vegetables for a late-summer harvest

Full Story

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

By Bill Marken

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Southwest Gardener's March Checklist

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Dust off your gardening tools and get busy pruning to help your trees and plants reach their full potential

Full Story

SPRING GARDENING 7 Spectacular and Practical Spring-Flowering Trees

By Bill Marken

Put on a beauteous show in the garden with a landscape tree awash in flowers — just do your homework first

Full Story

Pruning Apricot Tree

Comments (7)

User

nemo
Original Author

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

richary

redloh1999

redloh1999

mervtraeger_yahoo_com_au

reneelongmire_hotmail_com

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Pruning Apricot Tree

Comments (7)

User

nemoOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

richary

redloh1999

redloh1999

mervtraeger_yahoo_com_au

reneelongmire_hotmail_com

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

nemo
Original Author