Summer-prune peach and nectarine

1 REMOVE any vigorous growth lower down on the main branches that crosses the centre of the tree. The aim is to keep the centre open, with the main branches forming a vase shape. This allows the air to flow more freely through the canopy, which reduces disease problems, and allows light to penetrate the centre, improving flower and fruit formation on the inner wood.

2 PRUNE OFF the spent fruiting wood. Left in place, it becomes mostly unwanted branches. The light brown colour of the fruiting wood’s bark makes it easy to distinguish from new-season shoots, which are light green. Cut it back so it’s flush with the main branch. Or, where you want new growth to form, cut just above one node up from the base. Any young green shoots that are growing off the main branches can be kept. These are new-season shoots, and anything that grows this season will flower and produce fruit next spring. If the green shoots seem crowded, feel free to thin them out.

3 CUT BACK any deadwood so it’s flush with the leading branch. These dead parts of the tree are useless and they only harbour disease.

4 CHECK old branches and damaged branches that are underperforming for signs of fungi. This is a sign that the surrounding wood is on its way out. Prune back any branches growing fungi to a spot where the wood is healthy, just above a node, so they can reshoot and renew themselves.

5 BE BRAVE when you prune peach and nectarine trees in summer. To keep the trees manageable, it’s normal and often necessary to remove a lot of the growth. The trees will reshoot in no time and put on plenty of new growth throughout the remainder of summer and autumn. Remember, all the new growth that forms from now on will give you fruit next season.

Header image credit: Anna Hutchcroft