Defoliating trees in early November winter can ensure that dormant oil sprays.

During year 1 dormant pruning, four major scaffold limbs have been selected to form the open center canopy. Credit: UF/IFAS. If this has not been done already, select three to four limbs evenly spaced around the trunk at about a degrees angle from the trunk and about six inches apart vertically.

In Florida, for mature peach trees, begin summer pruning soon after harvest has finished (May) and continue until two to three weeks after harvest. Summer pruning is performed to favor branch induction of shoots through pinching or cutting the upper parts, sometimes multiple times in a year. Pruning the Peach Tree for Best Results. Dr. Bob Rouse is an Associate Professor and Fruit Crops Specialist with the University of Florida/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, FL.

Publications. Florida Subtropical Peaches: General Concepts and Cultivars Recommended for Grower Trials. Apr 25, Peach tree pruning is used to remove any diseased or broken branches, water sprouts, and suckers, as well as to open up the canopy of the tree to allow for better light and air penetration. Lastly, pruning is used to thin the crop prior to blooming, which reduces the amount of fruit that has to be hand thinned. When to Prune Back Peach Trees. The best time to prune a peach tree is in the early spring before the sap begins running.

Pruning.

Avoid cutting the branch at too steep an angle or too close to the collar at the base, as this opens it up for infection.

May 30, The best time to prune your peach trees is early spring, after the last major cold snap of winter. Avoid pruning in very cold weather though, as this can reduce the trees’ cold-hardiness and total output of fruit. The best month for pruning is typically February, but Views: K.