- The right time to cut a columnar apricot
- Shorten the leader
- Cut back the side branches of the apricot
When buying a columnar apricot, some hobby gardeners assume that it will retain its columnar shape without the gardener having to do anything and that no special care measures are necessary. Even with a columnar apricot, regular pruning is essential in order to achieve the highest possible yield in addition to an attractive growth habit.
Apricots are better pruned during the growing season
The right time to cut a columnar apricot
Many fruit trees, such as apple trees, tolerate large-scale pruning particularly well in the winter months when the sap is dormant. The situation is somewhat different with columnar apricots, which generally depend on the mildest possible climate and good site conditions in Central Europe. In the case of a columnar apricot, winter or too massive pruning can sometimes ensure that the tree dies as a whole or at least entire branches die off. On the other hand, the columnar apricot can be cut relatively easily during the growing season and several times a year. If possible, this should not happen during periods of pronounced heat and drought. Basically, a columnar apricot should be subtly shortened about 2 to 3 times a year instead of being cut back brutally once.
Shorten the leader
Column apricots are not only cut in height when they have reached their maximum growth height. Cutting off the top of the top leader is important to stimulate lateral growth and branching of the plant at an early stage of growth. Therefore, the leading shoot is shortened by about a third of its length every year. Last but not least, this can also be an important stimulus for the formation of many flowers.
Cut back the side branches of the apricot
Today's apricot varieties are sometimes bred for yield levels below which, without support, the branches of the fruit tree can collapse before the fruit is fully ripe. Therefore, the branches of a columnar apricot are shortened to a length of about 2 to 3 pairs of eyes (leaf axils), not only for optical reasons, but also for very practical reasons. With strong growth, such a pruning can be done between spring and autumn up to 3 times a year.
tips
When pruning fruit trees, a sense of proportion is always required from the gardener. The individual twigs should always be cut in such a way that the crown structure is as airy as possible, in which the twigs do not grow into each other.