The upbringing of gooseberries to tall stems is in vogue. This saves space and is nice to look at. However, there are some special requirements for the cut. Read here what they are and how they are implemented.

How to professionally cut a high trunk

No one plants tall gooseberries in their garden purely for decorative purposes. The main interest lies in a bountiful harvest of juicy berries. Targeted pruning makes an essential contribution to this. Otherwise, a gooseberry tree will grow old within a short time. Follow this guide to keep enjoying delicious fruit for years to come:

  • the best time for shape and maintenance pruning is in February or March
  • Cut out all shoots that are too close together, rubbing against each other and dried out
  • Cut off all branches growing towards the ground except for 5-7 leading branches
  • Leave 2-3 strong side shoots per main branch and shorten the others down to 2 eyes

The central premise for the successful pruning of tall gooseberry stems is the observation of the growth characteristics. This fruit tree always blooms and bears fruit on last year's long shoots. Of these, the strongest specimens should be preserved as far as possible and only minimally shortened, if at all. Create a harmonious crown that is airy in nature. Vitality is only ensured when sun and light reach all areas.

Courageous rejuvenation pruning saves a balding standard

If the annual pruning of a high-stem gooseberry is missed, the penalty follows immediately. The plant ages and bears only poor fruit. A rigorous taper cut provides a remedy. Here's how to do it:

  • the entire crown is trimmed down to a maximum of 5 main branches
  • Cut off all dead shoots at the base
  • shorten the selected leading branches to 2 eyes

The aim of this measure is to attract new shoots above the grafting point. For this purpose, all parts of the plant that consume unnecessary energy and do not contribute to a new crown should be removed.

tips and tricks

Don't feel like being constantly mauled by the thorns when cutting gooseberries? Then use pruning shears to cut back. Thanks to the long handles, you can keep the scratchy fruit trees at a distance and concentrate fully on making the perfect cut.

GTH

Category:

Vegetable garden