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Pruning is about more than tidying a tree's shape. Branches that are too upright often produce little or no fruit, while low branches near the base can block airflow and make it harder to move through the orchard for fertilizing and pest management.
A general approach: remove weak forked branches that have little potential to develop further, clear out low branches that don't meet a useful standard, and reduce excess branching that shades the interior of the canopy and reduces light.
Branches that grow outward or upward and have a track record of setting fruit are generally kept, while third-order branches that grow inward and crowd the canopy are removed to keep the tree open and productive.
After a full pruning pass, a mature tree is often brought down to around 8–10 well-placed main branches — enough to carry a good fruit load while staying manageable and well-lit.
Key takeaways
- Upright branches tend to fruit poorly; outward-growing branches tend to fruit better.
- Removing low, non-productive branches improves airflow and orchard access.
- Reducing interior crowding lets more light reach fruit-bearing branches.
- A well-pruned mature tree often keeps around 8–10 main branches.
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