POP TIPS: winter pruning season is here!

[Phil Forsyth]

Philly Orchardists,

Orchard pruning season 2024 has arrived!  See information and resources below and consider joining for an upcoming hands-on pruning workshop: 

Sat 2/1 Pruning workshop for POP Partners & Lead Orchard Volunteers only (registration sent separately)

Sat 2/15 Pruning workshop at Wyck House & Garden for general public

Sat 3/1 Juntos Podamos (Spanish language pruning workshop) - registration info to come

To kick off the season, we encourage you to review our updated POP Pruning Guide (with new page on fig pruning added!).  Please also check out POP's pruning videos on our YouTube channel:  

POP Pruning Video Playlist

The calendar and the cold tell us that it's time again for pruning fruit trees, berry bushes, and fruiting vines.  It is important to prune most fruiting plants every winter, regardless of their age!  Essentially everything except peaches are best pruned while dormant, between January and mid March.  

Annual pruning of almost all orchard plants is best accomplished during dormant season from January to mid March! 

Here is a quick list of the reasons for annual pruning:

1. open all parts of tree to sunlight
2. increase air circulation
3. improve quality, quantity & consistency of harvest
4. prevent infection and spread of disease
5. create good structure to support fruit
6. avoid breakage from poor branch angles
7. control size for easier harvest
8. ensure penetration of sprays
9. stimulate vegetative growth

You can find POP's pruning guide for fruit trees, berries, and vines on our website (revised with a new page on fig pruning!):

https://www.phillyorchards.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-POP-Pruning-Guide-1-1.pdf

A printable version of the POP Pruning Guide is also attached below and don't forget our video series!  

Phil Forsyth, Co-Executive Director

Philadelphia Orchard Project

www.phillyorchards.org

215-724-1247

Pronouns: he/him

"69 community orchards, 1622 fruit trees, and growing!"