How to prune old fig, cherry and apple trees... Advice please :)

[kt6382]

Hi, the house we moved into this year is a huge project and part if the fun for me is the garden. It has an established couple of fruit trespass, afraid ing cherry, an apple and what seems to be a large non fruiting fig

As I'm not in a physical state to do big tree work (6 months pregnant!!!) a friend has offered to come and help out but I need to advice him what to do.

Where to start!!!? I think the fig tree needs the most attention, only because it see,s to throw up suckers(?) and spread like mad!!! How do we cut back a fig? I know you cut the suckers off low down. What about the bulk of the tree? It must be about 15ft high and about 6-10 ft wide!! It would be great if it bore fruit but the main aim with the fig is just to manage the size and shape. I could take photos at the weekend if that he's you clever people??!

The cherry is also about 12ft high (I'm guessing completely, all higher than our 6ft fence!!). It had lots of fruit but mainly too high to reach and the birds got it all before us it's shape is pretty bad, lots of crossing over branches etc.

The apple bore some good fruit too, although it was rubbish to store, no idea what type of apple but eaters I think rather than cookers. A similar height but again branches not in a good structure. I read somewhere that you want branches to be bearing horizontal for fruiting but this one has branches reaching apply high for the sunshine!!

So where do I start!!!? Sorry for long post!

[FB.]

So where do I start!!!?

With a selection of pictures of the trees.

[Kirk]

Fig no idea but find out, you need to find out where the fruit comes from and if possible leave those intact. The identification is not as simple as those are the biggest pre-fruits. Alternatively you can prune and accept the loss of a years fruit.

Cherries are stone fruits (pretty obvious) so prune those in Spring/summer. THey are prone to viral infections that are more previlant during Autumn and winter.

Do not expect to get many cherries, the birds will get there long before you do. They sort of fly in at dawn, stuff themselves to the gills then fly off to digest the stolen goodies. Then repeat the following days until none left.

The apple check for any infected wood and remove. But the apple is likely the easier. May as well do that the same time as the Cherry. Just reduces the chance of infection.

Usually the general points are remove anything infected, dead or dying, anything crossing. Pruning saw helps, something to paint on the cuts ends is useful.

Not easy to say how to prune and part of it depends on the present shape and any pruning previously performed and what you want. Turning a bush shape into an umbrella shape is going to mean drastic cutting.

[kt6382]

With a selection of pictures of the trees.

Thanks... I have my easter holidays after next week so will take a few photos..