I did two videos to try and accurately show them a bit better than a pic.
Trying to kind of gauge a few opinions on this.
Peach Videos
Anyone? I think the big question is the competing leaders, are they too vertical to keep both, can I prune them both back to try and guide them to be outward scaffolds?
I have watched at least a half a dozen videos on YouTube about trimming peach trees . Most are similar in what they try to do, but none of them are exactly the same. My golden rule is just be a little conservative and give it a shot right before bud break. As long as you do it every year even if you miss a few you can correct it next year. So I would suggest just doing a search on YouTube for Peachtree pruning videos you will find plenty of them.
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I suck at pruning peach trees, and am looking forward to seeing the answers to your query.
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This is probably what I might do,after looking at your videos yesterday and again now.
The first tree,cut the central trunk,below the middle two that are forking up.This will make it easier to select which ones to keep for an open center shape,if that’s what is wanted.
Next,after stopping the video,at about 3/4 and referring to the right lower branch,remove the one that is growing more vertical,but keep the one that is attached.
Then,pick two or three others with similar angles,spaced at different directions and eliminate everything else.
Cut about a third off the kept ones.
The second tree,I’d make a cut above the third branch,from the bottom.
Then,shorten the branches,by a third.
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That’s similar to what I was thinking, except on the first one i was going to remove the two smaller branches and try and force a new higher one or two on that side just above the fork, that way they are a little more staggered vs being directly across from their opposite scaffolds.
The worst part is there’s so many buds on the one branch I will be removing. But probably not a bad idea to forgo most peaches this year anyway.
For what it’s worth, whatever I do i’ll take photos/videos after pruning and then I can follow up in summer so people see the result.
A follow up set of questions question though.
Is it ever okay to prune to a top bud? I have an apple tree with some kinda flat branches, and i’m debating if I should axe them all together, bend them up ward, or prune to a top bud so they sort of go out then up?
Second, if you prune to a ‘fruit’ bud, will it also produce a branch from now being the apical bud?
Tree1 I’d consider removing competing leader that doesn’t have the tag on it, I’d let the branches off tag’d leader fruit this year and consider later removal (or reduction to lateral) for more true open-center shape. Head cut all the scaffold laterals to stiffen them up and/or promote growth and thickening on the weaker ones.
Tree2 I’d probably take out the double center leader down to the stronger lateral below them, which should end up open-center. Also head cut laterals to strengthen
So one thing I did forget was that there is a black spot on the tagged leader, it doesn’t seem to be oozing or anything and I did treat it right away but I suppose it’s worth mentioning.
I debated doing what you said and notching that one(well below the black spot) and hoping to get fruit while starting a lateral in the open direction.
Editing to add:
Was thinking of doing this with Tree 2 -
The blue mark is sort of optional since it’s lower, the red cut is about navel height, and I think this sort of accomplishes a ‘delayed open center’.
