Selwyn Times: April 18, 2017
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
5<br />
SELWYN TIMES [Edition datE]<br />
Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi<br />
Tuesday <strong>April</strong> <strong>18</strong> <strong>2017</strong> 33<br />
HOME PROFESSIONALS<br />
A good time<br />
for pruning<br />
fruit trees<br />
Autumn is traditionally pruning time<br />
where spindly thin, criss-crossing, dead or<br />
diseased branches are removed and trees<br />
shaped so breeze and light get through.<br />
This assists pollination and fruit ripening.<br />
The tree’s height or width may also be<br />
trimmed back for easier harvesting.<br />
Pruning should only be carried out in<br />
dry warm conditions so the tree’s wounds<br />
are not exposed to disease and fungal<br />
spores in the air so winter is generally not<br />
a good time to prune.<br />
Stone fruits like cherries nectarines,<br />
peaches and plums or blueberries, are best<br />
pruned late summer or early autumn after<br />
fruiting.<br />
Some dwarf apples and apricots have<br />
been bred to not need an annual prune<br />
while other apples and pears will like a<br />
good clipping.<br />
Plants like Chilean guavas, feijoas, figs<br />
and olives are best pruned after harvesting<br />
while grapes and kiwifruit are a winter<br />
job so branches can be trained in a certain<br />
direction. Citrus pruning should be left<br />
until late spring, after the last of the frosts<br />
is over.<br />
When pruning nectarine, peach and<br />
plum trees, aim for an open centre. Apples<br />
and pears need a main upright trunk and<br />
branches stemming out.<br />
Avoid stressing a tree through over<br />
pruning; taking just a third of a branch or<br />
the tree itself.<br />
Using sharp pruning shears or loppers,<br />
make forty five degree angle cuts (so<br />
moisture will drain off), a little above<br />
branches and buds that are pointing<br />
outwards, and then apply a pruning paste.<br />
Burn diseased material or put it in the<br />
rubbish bin (not the green bin), never<br />
composting it as this could spread disease<br />
to other plants in the garden. Lastly, clean<br />
pruning equipment by wiping the blades<br />
with methylated spirits.<br />
Pruning a tree lessens the potential for<br />
pests and disease, increases its survival<br />
chances and improves fruiting potential.<br />
With apples & pears, branches should stem out from a main upright trunk.<br />
Autumn is traditionally pruning time.<br />
Sharon CroftS<br />
LandSCape d e S ign<br />
• Consultations • Design Concepts • Planting Plans<br />
P. 329 6229<br />
M. 0274 311 558<br />
s-crofts@xtra.co.nz<br />
www.sharoncrofts.co.nz<br />
Apple & pear trees often respond to a good pruning.<br />
Autumn<br />
A great time to plant<br />
- Landscaping plants for all projects<br />
- Ornamental & Specimen trees<br />
- Canterbury’s largest range of natives<br />
- Hedging & Topiaries<br />
- Fruit & Nut plants<br />
Get great autumn planting<br />
advice from our friendly<br />
team<br />
OPEN<br />
7 DAYS<br />
Corner SH1 & Robinsons Rd - 0800 800 352 - southernwoods.co.nz
Change language