Because of this variability, it is impossible to predict the perfect time to prune fruit crops in our rather variable region, but there are some tried and true guidelines for pruning the most popular fruit crops in Northwest Florida. Here in Central Florida we are blessed to have the beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia). For more information, please consult this UF/IFAS publication, The Fig. Deciduous fruit trees should be pruned during their dormant period, in late winter or early spring. In Northwest Florida, a February pruning is usually most desirable, depending on the season’s average high temperatures. We may have early frosts and early springs, or cold snaps in late march after fruit trees flower. When a plant reaches four to five years old it is permissible to remove about 1/4–1/5 of the oldest canes each year, which amounts to about one to three of the oldest canes. With blueberries older canes need to be removed to make room for younger, more productive canes. Pruning a grapefruit tree follows the same basic principles as pruning other citrus trees. Figs should be pruned after fruit production, which usually occurs in early summer. This task should be limited to removing excessive growth and dead / diseased wood. Remember, pruning can reduce cold hardiness—pruning stimulates new growth which is susceptible to freeze damage—so be sure to prune late enough in the winter that the likelihood of extreme cold has passed. Different types of trees are pruned to different shapes; apple, persimmon, and pear trees are trained to a modified central leader system, while peaches, nectarines, and plums are trained to an open center system. Dormant Peach Tree. The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Pruning and Training Deciduous Fruit Trees for the Dooryard, Training and Pruning Florida Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums, Fruit Trees: Pruning Overgrown Deciduous Trees--University of California Cooperative Extension, Fruit Trees: Training and Pruning Deciduous Trees--University of California Cooperative Extension, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). It can be wet or dry, frigid cold or unseasonably warm. There are four major reasons for pruning a plant: to affect flower or fruit production, to direct the growth and shape of the plant, to change the look of the plant, and to promote plant health. See the UF/IFAS publication, Blueberry Gardener’s Guide for more information. It is tempting to prune these off, since they make the tree look unbalanced. If you prune while the tree is trying to actively grow in the spring, it is even more of a burden. Plum trees are not fruits Florida gardeners typically think of planting. Once your trees reach maturity—usually about 3 years after planting—they should be pruned annually to enhance tree growth, reduce fruit thinning, and adjust crop load for the following season. Early frosts can surprise the plant before sugars have been moved to the roots for storage during dormancy. Grapefruit grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Thinning cuts are used to increase air circulation and improve sun penetration. Pruning after harvest in early fall is not, however, best for maintaining plant condition and optimizing next year’s yield, especially if there is an early frost. But if you don’t prune your tree correctly, you can hurt it more than help it. Another plus is that winter pruned plants … To maximize yield, commercial Satsuma growers allow these branches to weep with the heavy load of fruit until they touch the ground. The growth of these laterals can come from terminal buds, at the tips of branches, or along the sides, lateral buds. Pruning is not necessary for citrus in every case, as it is in many temperate fruits, to have excellent production quality and quantity. Large limbs equal large wounds, which are more difficult for a tree to seal and leave the tree open to disease, insects, and rot. Prune to give the bearing parts of a tree air and dappled sunlight, meaning it is filtered through leaves. This allows increased surface area for the tree, since the low areas around the trunk are not bare. Dormant pruning allows the tree or shrub to deal with healing the cut, without having to worry about producing leaves and flowers or sending out new growth. Dormant Season Sprays May Prevent Spring Insect and Disease Damage to Fruit Trees, Cultivar Diversity Can Extend Muscadine Harvest Season, Hurricane Michael Timber and Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Programs – Deadline November 20, Cotton and Coffee: Wake Up with Us – December 1, Controlling Invasive Woody Plants – December 2, AGAware Farm Risk Management Webinar – December 9, FSA’s CFAP2 Program – Application Deadline December 11, Texas A&M Offers QuickBooks Desktop Training for Farmers and Ranchers Online in 2020, UF/IFAS Animal Science Offering Know Your Heifer Program. Scaffold braches are the primary tree limbs that will form the canopy. Check out the video below to learn about pruning a newly planted bare root tree. As the floricanes are producing fruit, the blackberry plants are growing primocanes. Lastly, the best pruning experience is reliant on the proper tools. When making any cuts, it is important to keep in mind the desired structure of your tree, which includes keeping the angles of your branches upswept. For even more information on pruning you can check out the linked pieces below or contact your local county Extension office or Master Gardener program. But if you don’t prune your tree correctly, you can hurt it more than help it.