February and March are great times to prune your fruit trees. With the leaves off, it’s much easier to see the tree’s natural structure.
Your goal should be an open canopy that is open enough that you could throw a softball through it. When pruning, avoid removing more than one‑third of the canopy in a single season, as heavier cuts can stress the tree.
Begin by walking around the tree to assess its overall shape. Start pruning by removing small vertical shoots growing from the roots, trunk, or main branches. These shoots, commonly called suckers, are usually less than half an inch thick and will never produce fruit.
Next, look for branches that cross or rub against each other, grow straight upward, or show signs of damage from storms or disease. These should be removed to improve airflow and reduce disease pressure.
Be especially observant of fire blight, which appears as dry, blackened twigs that may still hold old, shriveled leaves. Fire blight cankers, sunken areas on branches or the trunk, are places where the bacteria overwinter. March is the recommended time to prune out infected areas. Because a single drop of the tan-colored ooze from fire blight can contain a billion bacterial cells, sanitize your pruning tools with a 10% bleach solution between each cut. Trees that suffer repeated fire blight infections may need to be removed. More details can be found in Purdue Extension publication BP‑30: Fire Blight on Fruit Trees in the Home Orchard.
Also keep an eye out for black knot, a fungal disease that forms small, light brown swellings on twigs in the first year of infection. Black knot is most commonly found on plums, prunes, and cherries. Any infected branches should be pruned out and destroyed.
Finally, remove any remaining mummy fruits. Mummy fruits are dried, shriveled fruit bodies that hang on the tree over winter. These can harbor diseases and should be taken off and discarded.
To learn more about fruit production in Indiana, consider signing up for Fruitful Fridays in February. During this 4-part workshop, Purdue Extension Specialists will discuss modern fruit production practices, pests and disease management, and more. This program is ideal for backyard fruit growers and individuals interested in growing a variety of fruits. Fruitful Fridays in February will take place on Feb. 6th, 13th, 20th, & 27th from 12:00-1:30 pm at the Putnam County Extension Office. For those who can’t participate in person, they are welcome to sign up to participate virtually. The cost is $30 (for in-person or virtual participation). Individuals need to register at https://cvent.me/VGbxvb by January 29th.
Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.
Upcoming Events:
Feb. 6, 13, 20, & 27 – Fruitful Fridays in February, 12-1:30 pm, Extension Office, $30,
register at https://cvent.me/VGbxvb
Feb. 17, 24, Mar 3, & 10 – Grain Market Navigator, 6:30-8:30 pm, Extension Office, $40,
register at https://bit.ly/GrainMarkets
