Hi, my name is Ben Scow.
Hi, my name is Ben Scow.

I work for Utah State University Extension down in Washington County,
I work for Utah State University Extension down in Washington County,

so the southern corner of the state
so the southern corner of the state

and we're going to be going over pruning today.
and we're going to be going over pruning today.

Today we're at the end of January, so in southern Utah we're
Today we're at the end of January, so in southern Utah we're

a little bit warmer than northern Utah.
a little bit warmer than northern Utah.

But we'll start pruning usually in January, the first part.
But we'll start pruning usually in January, the first part.

Northern Utah's usually a little bit later,
Northern Utah's usually a little bit later,

they'll start pruning, usually February, March.
they'll start pruning, usually February, March.

And the goal is to prune
And the goal is to prune

before everything starts to break, bud,
before everything starts to break, bud,

and we start having blossoms.
and we start having blossoms.

We want to be done pruning by that point.
We want to be done pruning by that point.

But we're here in Hurricane.
But we're here in Hurricane.

We're at my family orchard, so we have primarily peach trees,
We're at my family orchard, so we have primarily peach trees,

so we have quite a few peaches.
so we have quite a few peaches.

If you look behind me, we've been pruning quite a bit.
If you look behind me, we've been pruning quite a bit.

We started a little bit early.
We started a little bit early.

We started in December because we had so many trees,
We started in December because we had so many trees,

we usually don't get done unless we start earlier.
we usually don't get done unless we start earlier.

We've already pruned this orchard so you can see kind of the end result
We've already pruned this orchard so you can see kind of the end result

and you can see how much wood we're taking off.
and you can see how much wood we're taking off.

This is a lot of fruiting wood so you can see the color difference.
This is a lot of fruiting wood so you can see the color difference.

So this is really kind of a maroon color, kind of purplish.
So this is really kind of a maroon color, kind of purplish.

That's all the fruiting wood that we're taking a lot
That's all the fruiting wood that we're taking a lot

of it off we're leaving a lot.
of it off we're leaving a lot.

But we're trying to reduce the
But we're trying to reduce the

fruit load a little bit just so we can manage a bit better.
fruit load a little bit just so we can manage a bit better.

And that's pruning.
And that's pruning.

And primarily for this video, we're going to be going over
And primarily for this video, we're going to be going over

peaches, and you can apply this to apricots and plums as well.
peaches, and you can apply this to apricots and plums as well.

Cherries are kind of their own animal.
Cherries are kind of their own animal.

So we're going to stay away from cherries.
So we're going to stay away from cherries.

Apples and pears are also different.
Apples and pears are also different.

But this style of pruning works really well for peaches and apricots.
But this style of pruning works really well for peaches and apricots.

Okay so when we're pruning
Okay so when we're pruning

peach trees, there's four things that you need to keep in mind.
peach trees, there's four things that you need to keep in mind.

So the first one is we are pruning for
So the first one is we are pruning for

height and height adjustment.
height and height adjustment.

One of the questions we often get at the office is, "Can I just
One of the questions we often get at the office is, "Can I just

let my fruit tree grow or my peach tree go
let my fruit tree grow or my peach tree go

and not prune it from year to year?"
and not prune it from year to year?"

The problem you get
The problem you get

is they will get really tall.
is they will get really tall.

It depends a little bit on what rootstock they're on.
It depends a little bit on what rootstock they're on.

If it's a dwarf, semi-dwarf, or a standard
If it's a dwarf, semi-dwarf, or a standard

rootstock or on their own rootstock, will restrict their growth a little bit.
rootstock or on their own rootstock, will restrict their growth a little bit.

But really when we're pruning
But really when we're pruning

we're managing how high they're going to get.
we're managing how high they're going to get.

So all of these trees are on a semi-dwarf rootingstock
So all of these trees are on a semi-dwarf rootingstock

which is the most common and they grow really well
which is the most common and they grow really well

and they're pretty good size.
and they're pretty good size.

But we're trying to keep them from getting their full height.
But we're trying to keep them from getting their full height.

They'll get about 25 feet tall.
They'll get about 25 feet tall.

And if you can imagine being on a 10 foot ladder,
And if you can imagine being on a 10 foot ladder,

trying to pick that fruit is really not practical.
trying to pick that fruit is really not practical.

So the number one thing we're looking at
So the number one thing we're looking at

with pruning is to restrict the height.
with pruning is to restrict the height.

The second thing we're doing is we are thinning out
The second thing we're doing is we are thinning out

some of the fruiting wood.
some of the fruiting wood.

So, when we first started, you could see all that fruiting wood that we had
So, when we first started, you could see all that fruiting wood that we had

cut off, they produce a lot of fruit wood. A good, healthy peach tree
cut off, they produce a lot of fruit wood. A good, healthy peach tree

will produce a tremendous amount.
will produce a tremendous amount.

So we're trying to reduce that,
So we're trying to reduce that,

so our workload is going to be less later in the year
so our workload is going to be less later in the year

when we start thinning the trees to get some of
when we start thinning the trees to get some of

that fruit off. So we'll have good high quality fruit
that fruit off. So we'll have good high quality fruit

and better tasting fruit.
and better tasting fruit.

So that's the second one is we're just trying to thin out some
So that's the second one is we're just trying to thin out some

of the fruiting wood.
of the fruiting wood.

And then the third one
And then the third one

is one of the most important things
is one of the most important things

with stone fruit, is most of them like to have an open center.
with stone fruit, is most of them like to have an open center.

They depend quite a bit on sunlight to be able to ripen uniformly.
They depend quite a bit on sunlight to be able to ripen uniformly.

To also produce fruiting wood for next year,
To also produce fruiting wood for next year,

the sunlight into the middle is
the sunlight into the middle is

really critical and crucial for that.
really critical and crucial for that.

So we're going to be pruning out the middles.
So we're going to be pruning out the middles.

The fourth thing to keep in mind, and this is if you have a
The fourth thing to keep in mind, and this is if you have a

newer tree, if it's 1 to 4 years old,
newer tree, if it's 1 to 4 years old,

we're going to be structuring it really heavily.
we're going to be structuring it really heavily.

Those first three years and the fourth year a little
Those first three years and the fourth year a little

bit as well.
bit as well.

What we're shooting for
What we're shooting for

with peaches and going with an open center.
with peaches and going with an open center.

A lot of old timers will call this the open base
A lot of old timers will call this the open base

style of pruning, but it's an
style of pruning, but it's an

open center pruning where we're having
open center pruning where we're having

4, 4 to 5.
4, 4 to 5.

Well, 3 to 5, really, you can get away with 3
Well, 3 to 5, really, you can get away with 3

and 5 is a little bit heavy, but in the
and 5 is a little bit heavy, but in the

backyard setting, 5 is okay.
backyard setting, 5 is okay.

And this one has probably one too many.
And this one has probably one too many.

But we have 4 main,
But we have 4 main,

these are called scaffolding branches. This is where everything's
these are called scaffolding branches. This is where everything's

going to kind of branch off. You can tell it starts really low.
going to kind of branch off. You can tell it starts really low.

This is what helps
This is what helps

keep our fruit trees low in the first place, too.
keep our fruit trees low in the first place, too.

They don't start up here and start branching out,
They don't start up here and start branching out,

Otherwise this tree would be another 4 to 5 feet taller.
Otherwise this tree would be another 4 to 5 feet taller.

They start branching lower.
They start branching lower.

We select for the best ones.
We select for the best ones.

We try to space them out as evenly as we can
We try to space them out as evenly as we can

to get that spacing.
to get that spacing.

So they're going in four different
So they're going in four different

directions somewhat evenly.
directions somewhat evenly.

And that's what we're looking for when we're shaping them.
And that's what we're looking for when we're shaping them.

That has to be done in the first couple of years.
That has to be done in the first couple of years.

Once they get to be a
Once they get to be a

lot older, you're taking out really large
lot older, you're taking out really large

pieces of wood to try and accomplish that.
pieces of wood to try and accomplish that.

It can be pretty detrimental to the tree.
It can be pretty detrimental to the tree.

So the first 4 years we're going to be looking at that one.
So the first 4 years we're going to be looking at that one.

But again, we're looking at the height,
But again, we're looking at the height,

we're looking at opening the centers,
we're looking at opening the centers,

thinning out the fruit web,
thinning out the fruit web,

then the first four years, we're trying to get that structure
then the first four years, we're trying to get that structure

and that shape in.
and that shape in.

So this tree,
So this tree,

where I like to start, I like to start with
where I like to start, I like to start with

opening up the center first.
opening up the center first.

When you have an open center tree, the peaches,
When you have an open center tree, the peaches,

the trees,
the trees,

if they had a brain, they're really opportunistic.
if they had a brain, they're really opportunistic.

They can tell that they have
They can tell that they have

they have a space that sunlight is getting through
they have a space that sunlight is getting through

and it's not doing them good unless they can put a leaf there.
and it's not doing them good unless they can put a leaf there.

So they're always going to fill up the centers every year.
So they're always going to fill up the centers every year.

So the first thing to do is we're going to cut out water sprouts,
So the first thing to do is we're going to cut out water sprouts,

and those are these branches that are growing almost
and those are these branches that are growing almost

straight up. They grow up right up into the middle.
straight up. They grow up right up into the middle.

They have to come out.
They have to come out.

So I always start with what has to come out first.
So I always start with what has to come out first.

And then we'll do the other steps as we go.
And then we'll do the other steps as we go.

So these ones have to come out, we're going to prune those.
So these ones have to come out, we're going to prune those.

When you're pruning,
When you're pruning,

there's a couple of pieces of equipment that you need as well.
there's a couple of pieces of equipment that you need as well.

The first one is the set of pruners.
The first one is the set of pruners.

I have electric ones.
I have electric ones.

The brand of these is Infaco, and we have so many trees that
The brand of these is Infaco, and we have so many trees that

it makes it a lot easier than trying to use your
it makes it a lot easier than trying to use your

loppers, the loppers work.
loppers, the loppers work.

You'll want something that has a, their called bypass sheers.
You'll want something that has a, their called bypass sheers.

So you want something that's going to pass the cutting end.
So you want something that's going to pass the cutting end.

So when it goes down, it makes a clean cut all the way
So when it goes down, it makes a clean cut all the way

through. Versus they have some that are like an anvil type
through. Versus they have some that are like an anvil type

shear where they press against,
shear where they press against,

they have a bar on the bottom
they have a bar on the bottom

that the blade hits against directly and it kind of squishes things.
that the blade hits against directly and it kind of squishes things.

These work the best.
These work the best.

They make the cleanest cut and the tree hill's better.
They make the cleanest cut and the tree hill's better.

The second thing is, you're gonna need some kind of a saw.
The second thing is, you're gonna need some kind of a saw.

It can be a handsaw.
It can be a handsaw.

We have just an electric chainsaw.
We have just an electric chainsaw.

You can have an actual
You can have an actual

gas powered chainsaw.
gas powered chainsaw.

A sawzall works just fine.
A sawzall works just fine.

Whatever you have to cut, maybe
Whatever you have to cut, maybe

some larger branches out.
some larger branches out.

And once they get to be about two inches in diameter, it's really hard to
And once they get to be about two inches in diameter, it's really hard to

put enough pressure on your shears
put enough pressure on your shears

to cut those. And that can also damage the blades.
to cut those. And that can also damage the blades.

So having the saw is really handy.
So having the saw is really handy.

Also a ladder.
Also a ladder.

If you have a taller tree or an older tree that you can't get any
If you have a taller tree or an older tree that you can't get any

lower, a ladder is is usually required.
lower, a ladder is is usually required.

My trees
My trees

we've kept them low enough that I can reach everything by hand
we've kept them low enough that I can reach everything by hand

just so we're staying away from ladders
just so we're staying away from ladders

a little bit, but you may need a ladder as well.
a little bit, but you may need a ladder as well.

Those are really the three things you need to prune.
Those are really the three things you need to prune.

So we're going to go ahead and we'll
So we're going to go ahead and we'll

start pruning out the middles.
start pruning out the middles.

And just as a kind of a cleanliness thing.
And just as a kind of a cleanliness thing.

I always throw the limbs out. That way
I always throw the limbs out. That way

I don't leave anything in here that I get confused
I don't leave anything in here that I get confused

as I'm pruning.
as I'm pruning.

Just to make sure that I'm
Just to make sure that I'm

not leaving anything in there that I might mix up when I'm cutting later.
not leaving anything in there that I might mix up when I'm cutting later.

That's already been cut.
That's already been cut.

They just keep everything kind of clean, throw it out as you're cutting.
They just keep everything kind of clean, throw it out as you're cutting.

We're going to get rid of all the water sprouts.
We're going to get rid of all the water sprouts.

Okay, so we've gotten rid of most of the water sprouts.
Okay, so we've gotten rid of most of the water sprouts.

The other thing to do is there's
The other thing to do is there's

still a lot of little branches growing up in the middle.
still a lot of little branches growing up in the middle.

So we're just going to go ahead and clear all those little branches out.
So we're just going to go ahead and clear all those little branches out.

All right. So we've got the middles cleaned out.
All right. So we've got the middles cleaned out.

The next thing we're going to work on is
The next thing we're going to work on is

the height just to make sure that everything's at the right height.
the height just to make sure that everything's at the right height.

We're not going too high.
We're not going too high.

For a commercial operation we're trying to
For a commercial operation we're trying to

keep them low enough that we don't have to have ladders
keep them low enough that we don't have to have ladders

at all and we try and avoid them.
at all and we try and avoid them.

So everything I can usually reach, anything above that
So everything I can usually reach, anything above that

we try and prune off.
we try and prune off.

Also,
Also,

when you make a lot of these cuts,
when you make a lot of these cuts,

it's important not to leave a little stub sticking out.
it's important not to leave a little stub sticking out.

We try and go back to a good main branch.
We try and go back to a good main branch.

Then you'll cut right above that and leave
Then you'll cut right above that and leave

maybe a quarter of an
maybe a quarter of an

inch as you cut.
inch as you cut.

So just for the height.
So just for the height.

It's pretty good on the height.
It's pretty good on the height.

So we've gone around, taken everything off.
So we've gone around, taken everything off.

So it's at a manageable height.
So it's at a manageable height.

Then again, the third thing that we're keeping in mind
Then again, the third thing that we're keeping in mind

as we thin things out so we can get rid of some
as we thin things out so we can get rid of some

of the fruiting wood.
of the fruiting wood.

And it also allows
And it also allows

the fruit as it matures that it'll have enough room to grow.
the fruit as it matures that it'll have enough room to grow.

So looking at these branches, there's a lot going on with them.
So looking at these branches, there's a lot going on with them.

So at this part
So at this part

we're trying to select
we're trying to select

good fruiting ones.
good fruiting ones.

So this is what fruiting wood looks like.
So this is what fruiting wood looks like.

It's kind of that purplish red color.
It's kind of that purplish red color.

You're also looking at the buds, so fruiting wood
You're also looking at the buds, so fruiting wood

and where the fruit's going to be have kind of unique little buds there.
and where the fruit's going to be have kind of unique little buds there.

They come on in clusters, it looks like a cluster of two.
They come on in clusters, it looks like a cluster of two.

And there's actually three buds.
And there's actually three buds.

The third one's hard to see.
The third one's hard to see.

But the two cluster, the two big buds will turn into a blossom.
But the two cluster, the two big buds will turn into a blossom.

There's one right in the middle that will be a leaf.
There's one right in the middle that will be a leaf.

So looking for those, you can tell this fruit, this piece of
So looking for those, you can tell this fruit, this piece of

fruiting wood would have had peaches all along it.
fruiting wood would have had peaches all along it.

So as you're pruning, you can tell where the fruit's
So as you're pruning, you can tell where the fruit's

going to come on and where
going to come on and where

it's going to be. The best fruiting wood is about the diameter of a pencil
it's going to be. The best fruiting wood is about the diameter of a pencil

or larger.
or larger.

So we're trying to select for that.
So we're trying to select for that.

So we'll go in on these branches we've left.
So we'll go in on these branches we've left.

We're going to try and thin it out so there's enough room
We're going to try and thin it out so there's enough room

between the branches
between the branches

that the fruit
that the fruit

is going to have enough room that come on
is going to have enough room that come on

and grow.
and grow.

Okay, so this branch is pretty good.
Okay, so this branch is pretty good.

We're trying to leave the biggest and best fruiting wood
We're trying to leave the biggest and best fruiting wood

that's on there. So we're selecting for that.
that's on there. So we're selecting for that.

And as we go around and just look at it, a lot of them have a lot going on.
And as we go around and just look at it, a lot of them have a lot going on.

You can't stick your hands through because there's so much
You can't stick your hands through because there's so much

happening.
happening.

So we'll start thinning out anything that's going to be
So we'll start thinning out anything that's going to be

crossing over one another.
crossing over one another.

And opening
And opening

it up,
it up,

Man, I'll just go around, do one more pass to make sure everything looks
Man, I'll just go around, do one more pass to make sure everything looks

the way I would like it.
the way I would like it.

Again,
Again,

once you've gone through it once or once you've done one pass and you go
once you've gone through it once or once you've done one pass and you go

back, it's really easy to tell if you have areas that are really heavy.
back, it's really easy to tell if you have areas that are really heavy.

So I can tell this branch is heavier than the rest of the branches on the tree.
So I can tell this branch is heavier than the rest of the branches on the tree.

I've got to send it out just a little bit more.
I've got to send it out just a little bit more.

Okay, I talked about before, too,
Okay, I talked about before, too,

how you don't want to leave stubs, so this is what would be considered a stub.
how you don't want to leave stubs, so this is what would be considered a stub.

It's about three inches tall.
It's about three inches tall.

There's nothing that's going to be growing on that.
There's nothing that's going to be growing on that.

So we're going to cut it off.
So we're going to cut it off.

So with whatever
So with whatever

saw you would have, you can use that to make it a bit
saw you would have, you can use that to make it a bit

cleaner.
cleaner.

All right,
All right,

so this is what the tree's going to look like when it's done and pruned.
so this is what the tree's going to look like when it's done and pruned.

We have accomplished those four things.
We have accomplished those four things.

Three, really, unless you have a young tree.
Three, really, unless you have a young tree.

But we have,
But we have,

we've brought it down so it's more manageable.
we've brought it down so it's more manageable.

Everything for me is within arm's reach.
Everything for me is within arm's reach.

If you have a larger tree, as long as
If you have a larger tree, as long as

you're keeping it as short as you can, that way you can reach the fruit.
you're keeping it as short as you can, that way you can reach the fruit.

We've opened up
We've opened up

the center that allows the sunlight to go through and throughout the tree,
the center that allows the sunlight to go through and throughout the tree,

and allow for more uniform ripening.
and allow for more uniform ripening.

We've gone through and we've thinned out the really heavy branches.
We've gone through and we've thinned out the really heavy branches.

A way to tell if you're not thinning out your branches well enough,
A way to tell if you're not thinning out your branches well enough,

is if in the spring and in past years,
is if in the spring and in past years,

if you're having to go out with 2
if you're having to go out with 2

by 4's or anything to prop up your peach trees,
by 4's or anything to prop up your peach trees,

one, you're not thinning too
one, you're not thinning too

much, but you're also probably leaving too much fruit wood on.
much, but you're also probably leaving too much fruit wood on.

A good, healthy tree, one that's producing good quality fruit
A good, healthy tree, one that's producing good quality fruit

should never have to have boards
should never have to have boards

underneath it to prop it up.
underneath it to prop it up.

And that goes back to how you prune them.
And that goes back to how you prune them.

So you can tell that this can
So you can tell that this can

support a tremendous amount of weight.
support a tremendous amount of weight.

And then when you thin it, it does help
And then when you thin it, it does help

reduce your fruit load. And you make up
reduce your fruit load. And you make up

what you're throwing on the ground, so many people
what you're throwing on the ground, so many people

have such a hard time throwing fruit on
have such a hard time throwing fruit on

the ground when it gets to thining season.
the ground when it gets to thining season.

But you make up the volume that you're
But you make up the volume that you're

throwing on the ground
throwing on the ground

in quantity of size on your peaches.
in quantity of size on your peaches.

Pruning definitely helps with that.
Pruning definitely helps with that.

It's not nearly as overwhelming to throw so
It's not nearly as overwhelming to throw so

much fruit on the ground because you have so much fruit wood on your peach tree,
much fruit on the ground because you have so much fruit wood on your peach tree,

it's producing fruit.
it's producing fruit.

By reducing that, you have a fewer amount
By reducing that, you have a fewer amount

that you're able to thin.
that you're able to thin.

It also allows the same thing:
It also allows the same thing:

light penetration to get into the tree a lot better to help that fruit ripen.
light penetration to get into the tree a lot better to help that fruit ripen.

Helps with the air flow so you don't have disease problems.
Helps with the air flow so you don't have disease problems.

So that's why we're thinning out the
So that's why we're thinning out the

fruiting wood so much. That's what it looks like when we're all done.
fruiting wood so much. That's what it looks like when we're all done.

It doesn't take too long. Once you get the hang of it, you can do this with
It doesn't take too long. Once you get the hang of it, you can do this with

just your regular loppers.
just your regular loppers.

You can use a small pair of snips to get some of the smaller stuff
You can use a small pair of snips to get some of the smaller stuff

if you want, and then having a saw to make some of those bigger cuts.
if you want, and then having a saw to make some of those bigger cuts.

So you can make your tree
So you can make your tree

a healthy and manageable size.
a healthy and manageable size.