Having a go at pruning fruit trees - anyone interested?

[agg221]

I thought I'd put this up as an idea in case it's of interest to anyone.

 

Pruning fruit trees seems to be an area which for some people is a bit of an experience gap, and it gets regarded as a black art, so I wondered if it might be useful to anyone to come and have a go.

 

As I've posted before, I've looked after Mum's smallholding orchard in North Kent (near Dartford) since about 1988. It's currently just over an acre of top fruit - mostly apples with a few pears, plums and cherries. It's not a commercial orchard anymore. The trees are now mostly about 95yrs old so well over commercial age and the aim is to keep them alive, healthy and stable, with a reasonable crop for use rather than sale. There's a mixture of vigorous and semi-dwarf, with a few young trees planted over the past 20yrs. The trees are much more the kind of size and form you would find in a back garden than a modern, dwarf orchard.

 

I'll be going down there soon to do the pruning (apples and pears). If anyone is interested in coming along and having a go then they're welcome. I'm aware this could look a bit like 'come and do some free work for me' but that isn't why I'm offering it (if it's not of interest then I'm quite happy to crack on and do it as usual) but I thought it might be of interest to see the difference between pruning forms, how they can be developed over time, different growth and fruiting habits of varieties and how to take account of it and whatever else anyone is interested in (so long as it's within my knowledge). It would be very much my personal view and I don't have any formal training or claim to be an expert but hopefully anyone interested would go away knowing more than they did when the came

 

I should add, I haven't suggested this to Mum yet, as it's always better to give her definite options rather than hypothetical ones so I thought I would see if there was any interest before broaching the subject, but I would imagine that she would be OK with it, since I look after the trees anyway.

 

Alec

[AndyCM]

Hi Alec,

 

I would be interested in coming along for some learning.

 

I'm only next door (Longfield / Fawkham)

 

Please let me know when you have a date.

 

Thanks

Andy

[s.varty]

The amount of times ive been asked " can you prune my fruit tree" and ive said i can but it may not fruit again cos i dont know what im doing. love to come along and learn, but to far for me. good luck

[Gus McWilliam]

I'm up for it as long as I can get a lift from Rochester

[TreePuncher]

I shall be keeping a eye on this thread for the date you set sounds really interesting

[Lyncombe-climber]

I shall be keeping a eye on this thread for the date you set sounds really interesting

 

Same here!!

[Rich Rule]

I'm up for it as long as I can get a lift from Rochester

 

Bloody hell mate. Rochester to Dartford!

 

Get on the bus.

[Gus McWilliam]

Bloody hell mate. Rochester to Dartford!

 

Get on the bus.

 

Shall do mate. Quite embarrassed lol

[agg221]

Bloody hell mate. Rochester to Dartford!

 

Get on the bus.

 

Given the precise location (which I'll let people know privately) the best bet is the train.

 

Alec

[Gus McWilliam]

Given the precise location (which I'll let people know privately) the best bet is the train.

 

Alec

 

Ok mate no worries. Give us a shout where and when.