If you think that pruneing apricot is a simple and risk -free operation, you could compromise its productivity without even realizing it. An incorrect cut, carried out at the wrong time, can drastically reduce the quantity and quality of the fruits.
The pruning of the albicocco It is a fundamental step to ensure balanced growth and a abundant and healthy harvest. However, many people make the mistake of treating him like any other fruit tree, without considering his sensitivity to cuts. If the intervention is not performed correctly, the plant can develop gummosisa condition that leads to the escape of resin and the deterioration of the wood.
When to prune? How to recognize the right branches to be eliminated? The choice of correct period and of the adequate technique It can make the difference between a lush tree and one weakened, exposed to diseases and with reduced production. In this article you will discover How to prune in the correct wayavoiding the most common mistakes that put your apricot at risk and compromising the quality of its fruits.
The right period for the pruning of the albicocco
The most common mistake that is made in the pruning of the albicocco It is to choose the wrong time to intervene. This plant is particularly sensitive to cuts and does not tolerate drastic or out of season interventions. If it is pruned in the colder months, the risk is to slow down growth, compromise flowering and promote the onset of fungal infections. Pruning must be performed in two key moments of the year. The first is a Septemberimmediately after the harvest, when the plant is still in activity and can heal quickly. This intervention allows you to eliminate dry branches and improve the structure of the hair, promoting balanced growth. The ideal second moment is Februaryjust before the vegetative recovery. At this stage the frost must be avoided, which could slow down the healing of the cuts and make the plant more vulnerable to diseases.
A widespread error is to prune the apricot in primaveraattracted by the milder temperatures. However, this plant has difficulty healing cuts in humidity conditions and can develop rubbery, a pathology that leads to the escape of resin and the deterioration of the wood. For this reason, choosing the right period is essential to protect the plant and ensure an abundant harvest.
How to recognize the right branches to cut
Another frequent mistake in the pruning of the albicocco It is to eliminate the wrong branches, compromising the fruiting of the following year. Before taking the shears, it is fundamental Know the different types of branches and understand which to maintain and which to remove.
Here are the main branches of the albicocco and their role in the production of fruits:
- Brindilli: They are the main fruits, thin and long, with flower gems along the branch. They must be preserved, unless they are too weak or disordered.
- Dart or Mazzetti of May: short twigs, with numerous fruits. They are fundamental for production and must be maintained carefully.
- Mixed branches: long between 40 and 50 cm, they contain both wood and flower gems. If too numerous, they must be thinned to avoid overloads on the plant.
- Juice and lungs: unproductive and often harmful, they grow vertically and subtract energy from the plant. Must be eliminated promptly.
Many tend to remove toasts, believing that they are useless branches. This is a serious mistakebecause these are precisely these that guarantee abundant production. If they are eliminated indiscriminately, the next harvest will be reduced and the plant will invest more energy in vegetative growth rather than in fruiting.
Alternative techniques for pruning to improve production
If you want Reduce the number of cutsthere is an effective alternative that allows you to manage the growth of the tree without stressing it: the twist of the branches. This technique consists in changing the position of the branches without recurring them, improving the lighting and ventilation of the hair.
To correctly apply the twist:
- Perform this operation a maggiowhen the plant is active and can recover quickly.
- Fold the branches a 90 degrees Compared to the main trunk, to encourage more balanced growth.
- Usa cord Or small weights to keep the branches in the desired position.
- If a branch accidentally breaks, remove it immediately to avoid infections.
This technique allows you to Improve the distribution of the lymph And to reduce the number of pruning necessary over time, keeping the productive plant without stressing it with unnecessary cuts.
Indispensable tools for safe pruning
To obtain effective pruning, it is essential to use Quality toolsbecause an inaccurate or poorly performed cut can compromise the health of the plant irreversiblely. The Double Lama shears They are ideal for clear and precise cuts on the thinner branches, while for the thicker or woody ones a professional sawable to perform clean cuts without damaging the fabric of the plant. After each intervention, especially in the presence of deeper cuts, it is advisable to apply the healing masticwhich helps protect the plant from excessive sap of sap and reduces the risk of infections. An aspect often neglected, but fundamental, is the tool disinfection Before and after use: working with dirty shears can favor the spread of bacteria and mushrooms, putting at risk not only the treated plant but the entire orchard.
With the right tools and adequate maintenance, pruning becomes a safer, effective and respectful operation of the plant.
Photo © Stock.adobe
FOLLOW CASTLI NEWS ON
