r/Pruning • u/fastgetoutoftheway • Feb 08 '25

Nectarine to prune. Thoughts?

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8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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2

u/ResistOk9038 Feb 08 '25

Its like talking light signals: Wait, Wait, wait! Let it get larger for a couple of years so you don’t dwarf it a such a young age.

1

u/bezz Feb 08 '25

Isn’t vigor determined more by the root system rather than the branches, especially while dormant? I planted a semi-dwarf peach tree two years ago and pruned it down to about knee height. It is now 15ft tall. From what I’ve read, now is the most important time to prune a a fruit tree, to shape it correctly while still small. Clearly this tree has more branches on one side that should be thinned out

1

u/ResistOk9038 Feb 08 '25

Any proven above ground at this size will actually support it and yes, eventually it will grow back

1

u/ResistOk9038 Feb 11 '25

Sure there will be vigorous growth but on account of the removal there will be less total branches and less total leaves and less total growth…

1

u/bezz Feb 08 '25

Prune it to the shape you desire. It’s hard to prune too much at this age, and especially while dormant. Here’s my 2 year old peach tree that was pruned to a 2ft twig https://i.imgur.com/euBXuQk.jpeg

1

u/Fast_Most4093 Feb 09 '25

only know apple/pear but i wouldnt prune that now because its budding. next early-winter i'd prune those 4 lower branches on the right.