Pruning for a strong fruit tree

Regular pruning helps your fruit tree grow healthy, stay nicely shaped, and get enough light and air between the branches.

Pruning becomes a lot easier with these simple steps:

• Determine the heart attack
  This is the central branch from which the other branches grow, usually as an extension of the trunk. Prune this branch approximately 1/4 back.
• Prune the side branches
  You prune the branches growing from the central leader approximately 1/3 back. Are there more than four main lateral branches? Remove the excess branches back to the central leader.
• Remove excess twigs
  Other twigs and thorn twigs that do not contribute to the desired shape of the tree can be pruned away completely.