pruning trees in winter

[common lime]

The current thinking is that winter pruning removes the stored energy adjacent to buds which is used during leaf and flower burst. This means that energy must be transferred around the tree prior to growth starting in the spring and before the tree has the chance to build up its energy reserves via photosynthesis. This may lead to physiological stress in the tree resulting in a weakening of the tree's ability to defend it self against active pathogens.

 

It is also thought that there are more air bourne pathogen spores floating around in the autumn and winter which can infect a dormant tree's newly cut branch and before the tree can use its available energy to defend itself. Chop a branch off and pathogen spores have a clear route into the tree.

 

Pruning the tree in summer allows the tree to repair itself prior to dormancy and allows starch to be stored where the tree needs it i.e. behind the buds and ready for the spring.

 

The above is what I recognise as current best practice with the addition of when there has been a prolonged period of dry weather in spring and or summer months tree pruning should be delayed. Tree pruning works were traditional undertaken in autumn and winter months for cultural reason ie there was a pool of available horticultural and or agricultural labour on the country estates to undertake tree work given their other task had come to an end for the season.

[MWArb]

The current thinking is that winter pruning removes the stored energy adjacent to buds which is used during leaf and flower burst. This means that energy must be transferred around the tree prior to growth starting in the spring and before the tree has the chance to build up its energy reserves via photosynthesis. This may lead to physiological stress in the tree resulting in a weakening of the tree's ability to defend it self against active pathogens.

 

It is also thought that there are more air bourne pathogen spores floating around in the autumn and winter which can infect a dormant tree's newly cut branch and before the tree can use its available energy to defend itself. Chop a branch off and pathogen spores have a clear route into the tree.

 

Pruning the tree in summer allows the tree to repair itself prior to dormancy and allows starch to be stored where the tree needs it i.e. behind the buds and ready for the spring.

 

So where does this leave my cherry and hazel reductions?

 

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