I always start pruning after leafs fall mainly because the branches fall to the ground more easily. No leafs allow a more accurate cut and avoid cutting trellis wires also. Have always started pruning as early as possible to utilize a year round workforce. I always heard but have never seen any documentation that it's not a good idea to make big cuts close to a central leader if sub zero F weather is anticipated. Have always saved the youngest trees for last when the coldest part of winter has passed. It seems like anymore pruning has become almost a year round activity. Some years we haven't finished winter pruning until long after bloom without any apparent ill effects but the workers hate it. They call it "cutting bees."
Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center Corvallis, Montana ________________________________ From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Jose Manuel Pereira Cardoso Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 4:56 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] Best time to start apple prunning after harvest Hi don't know the best time to start prunning appIe trees, and if is cientific consistent that i suggest that pruning the apple tree should be always start when the is 100% dormant, because if not dormant the plant is mobilizing the reservesI don´t know if is any inconvenient to carry out pruning just afterthe leaves fall because it coincides with the maximum translocation of reserves (given the scarcity of labor, which has many hectares has already started to prune pruning). In the latter case when you start pruning early on the one hand we are to reduce the reserves in buds and in some ways to help the plant to respond with vegetative buds and increase alternance, and we are exposing the plant to external agents that can cause fungal infections and by bacteria. When you start pruning early apple wood still not well "hard" it needstimely, and then gain more strength. As for which variety to get there. Can still be considered that the parcels located in areas of higher risk andlower the occurrence of frost can be made as close to the bud ...This year in September and October were too hot, and this heatkept the vegetation greener longer, sometimes causing a delay inentry into dormancy of apple trees that can be advanced with the application of copper, to force the plant to go dormant.Greetings -- JMP CARDOSO SOMA MAÇÃS MAIS<http://www.somafrutas.com/intro/intro.html>
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