Tree pruning conifers during the dormant season will minimize sap and resin flow, however they can be pruned at any time. Tree pruning the trees which have showy flowers also needs to be achieved while dormant so you can see the structure, maximize wound closure, reduce disease and to eliminate any excessive flow of sap.

Flowering shrubs also need dormant pruning for exactly the same reasons above but some could also need pruning at other times. Trees and shrubs that blossom in planting season, the dogwood and red-bud for example, should be pruned immediately after they flower. Many flowering trees can be susceptible to fire blight, a bacterial disease, that may spread by pruning. These trees, such as crab apple, pear, types of hawthorn, mountain ash, pyracantha, and flowering quince ought to be pruned through the dormant season. Those that flower during summer or fall should also be pruned during dormancy. Dead branches, on the other hand, can be removed at any time.

Fruit trees will not develop to the proper form or shape without any pruning or training. Properly pruned and trained fruit trees will yield an increased quality fruit earlier and their live span will be longer. The objective to pruning and training is to develop a strong tree framework which will be able to support a large crop of fruit. If fruit trees are not trained in the proper way the angle of the branches will undoubtedly be much too upright and may cause breakage with a heavy crop. This will cause a decrease in the productivity of the tree and shorten its life. Another facet of annual pruning and training would be to get rid of all diseased, broken, and dead limbs.


Proper tree training will start the tree's canopy and allow penetration of maximum light. Nearly all fruit on a deciduous tree is formed the previous year as flower buds. The penetration of light is most important in the development of buds together with the optimal fruit set, flavor and quality. Even if an adult fruit tree keeps growing quite well in full sun, a dense canopy will prevent enough sunlight to attain 18 inches in the tree. Opening up the canopy of the tree permits proper movement of air to allow speed in drying to reduce infection and invite penetration of pesticides. A perfectly shaped fruit tree could be a beautiful asset to a garden or landscaping.

In the past pruning has always been the technique in forming and structuring fruit trees. Tree training is really a more desirable and effective solution to improve the structure and form. Pruning is simply removing portions of a tree that correct the structure; training is really a newer application where the direction of the growth to a desired form and shape is set. Training a fruit tree is important for proper development. It is usually easier to train the direction of the growth than to prune to improve it. Pruning is normally done in the winter while training and pruning is done in summer along with pruning in dormancy. The purpose of training is to correct the growth of a tree as well as to minimize cutting.

Trees respond differently to summer pruning and dormant pruning. In the fall the power of the tree is stored in the root and trunk system to aid the top section. If removal of a large part of the tree is performed during dormancy, the tree's energy isn't changed. In the spring, the tree will react by producing many upright, energetic shoots called water sprouts; these will shade the tree preventing good development. Heavy pruning during dormancy causes the same problem.

Dormant tree pruning should be done late in the growing season in order to avoid winter injury. Apple and pecan trees need pruning before peach tree pruning, plum-tree pruning and cherry tree pruning. https://hertfordshiretreesurgeons.co.uk/best-arborist-hertfordshire/ is to prune early blooming trees last and the later blooming trees first. It is advisable to prune the older trees first as the younger ones are prone to winter injury with early pruning. Summer pruning reduces most of the tree's energy that will result in tree growth reduction. Pruning will start when the buds start growing, but usually it begins after the growth of vegetation is several inches long. In most cases summer pruning is to eliminate vigorous and upright growth and only the cuts which will do some thinning. Summer pruning has to be completed before the end of July so that you can lower any problems of winter injury.