Tree Surgeons in Richmond Reveal the Importance of Pruning Fruit Trees

The Garden of Eden is what everyone wishes for, while planting fruit trees. Sadly, seldom does this happen. What we often beget is a haphazardly growing field of bushes, which not only looks ugly, but also yields poor. Ever wondered what’s behind this blow?

Well, the answer is PRUNING! Yes, you need to prune your fruit trees regularly (at least once in a year) to keep them pretty and productive. And yes, this is not as big a deal as you are thinking.

However, you have to understand that each type of fruit tree has its own requirements, and hence, needs to be pruned in specific ways. But, in general, tree surgeons in Richmond will carry out the process in this following generic manner:

·         Cleaning is the first step:

If your fruit trees are not yielding well, it is likely that there is a lot of dead, decayed, damaged, or diseased wood sticking onto them. The process, thus, begins with a thorough cleanup.

The surgeons will also observe if sprouts are coming out from the base of the trunk. They call these the ‘suckers’ – the sprouts, which arise from the roots rather than the shoots. These must be cleaned immediately because they hamper with the production of fruits.

Yet again, there are ‘watersprouts,’ which arise from the main branches. They are usually straight, perfectly vertical, and do no good to your garden. These must be removed as well.

·         Then comes thinning out:

A tree surgeon in Richmond will do this to allow the canopy of your garden to breathe. The procedure of thinning out lets light and air enter, which, in turn, enhances fruit production and the health of the foliage, too. Pest problems are reduced and diseases are kept at bay.

To thin out trees, the branches growing downward are removed first. These branches often head toward the centre of the trunk and interfere with the growth of other branches.

The motive behind thinning of the canopy is to have a well ventilated pattern of evenly spaced branches, which can enjoy the air and light without much competition.

·         Finally, it’s time for a hair cut (for the tree):

Yes, you can, kind of, take it in this way. The outermost growths are pruned back, and the branches are made shorter because, long, lanky branches are not much fruit yielding. Moreover, once the fruits grow, these gangling branches tend to break due to the increased weight.

Cutting the long branches short helps in activating the plant growth hormones in the lower parts, thereby, making the tree small and highly productive. However, only an expert can tell you how to cut each branch and twig at the right place.

Still and all, tree pruning is not a messy thing. It’s needed to maintain the good health of your garden, to keep trees safe from harm, to get rid of dead, unwanted branches, to grow more quality fruits, and to set up your very own Garden of Eden (perhaps)!