Peach tree trimming

[Paddy]

To all the peach tree owners.

We planted 3 peach trees last spring, they were sold in a 1 gal container and had a trunk the size of a broom stick. They were a bit over 3 ft tall. We trimmed a bit to get the desired open center. With good watering and twice fertilizing, we had good growth. All flowered and one tree made two very large a sweet peaches!

Now the trees are 5 to 6 ft tall and full wide shape. They have branches the size of the original tree. Now is time to prune. I think I know the basics;

1) peaches grow on last years wood
2) remove branches heading back into the open center
3) cut back fast growing tops, by 30%

Questions; Is it OK to leave a short part of a branch that is heading to the open center so it can make a peach or 2? So instead of removing all of a 18 in branch heading in to the center, leave it to 6 in? I guess this depends if I can ID there is actually a fruit flower.

If a tree is unbalanced with bigger wood on one side, just cut the bigger side back further? Hoping the smaller side will "catch up"?
I have heard, peaches only set on "red wood". If I cut back by 30%, a bunch of the red wood will be gone.

I have not taken/posted photos yet because I think the center needs to be cleared so what remains will be easy to get final advice.

Any advice before I dive in?

 

[RalphVa]

I always pruned peach and plum trees like an upside down umbrella. I've noticed that the local peach orchards leave more upwards (like water shoots) out near the tips of the branches.

Ralph

 

[Paddy]

RalphVA

Ours are more like a "V" shape, with a bit of trimming, we will have back our open center. How much do you cut back in height?

 

[HillStreet]

Look at videos on how to prune trees. Just google it and you’ll have all the info you need.

 

[Paddy]

I've seen lots of videos, some are better than others. And each have a different methods. I did see where leaving short branches on the inside to be removed latter to up the peach output.

I think I'm better prepared now

Thanks all!

 

[Ford850]

Sounds like you have the idea of it. I learned each tree is a little different and you just go by feel. I usually prune the trees, then take a break, and come back through and prune a little more until they feel right. Years ago I only had a couple trees, and really didn't know what I was doing. Those were the best producing trees I've had, although the soil was much better at that location.

 

[plowhog]

Peach trees do NOT like to be pruned. But it is necessary. Prune it into a bowl shape with an open center, and be patient doing part this year, part next, etc. After pruning you will impact the peach harvest that next year.

 

[Paddy]

For the most part, I have a pretty good shape going. There are cuts from last year that did not give me the expected outcome. By this I mean, I trimmed the scaffold at an outward facing leaf bud. Though the outward guy did grow, another up facing bud took control and is larger. Lesson learned; don't wait until the next pruning season to correct a shaping cut. If I had noticed the rapid growth of the up facing guy and "nipped" him off, the out facing bud would have been the source of growth.

I also have learned you can balance early fruit production and structure building. Our trees are covered in flower buds. If we did minimal trimming, we'd get a bunch of peaches. But maybe a wiser strategy would be to delay that and better establish the structure.

 

[Spindifferent]

I've found these videos to be very helpful for pruning my peach trees:

Pruning a Young Peach Tree - YouTube
Pruning a Two-Year Old Peach Tree - YouTube
Pruning a Mature Peach Tree - YouTube

 

[cqaigy2]

Nice list of videos. Thanks!