Is it time to fiddle with my 2yo fruit trees yet, or too early in the year?

[d000hg]

I have a few fruit trees bought about two years ago as bare whips (this is their second winter) - an apple, a pear, a plum and a cherry.

Is it too early in the year (I'm in the north-east) to be pruning/shaping them? I think this should be done while they're dormant but should I wait until the chance of frost is gone or is that not an issue?

One of them is currently in a largish pot and I'd like to plant it out - should that be done at the same time as pruning or what?

Cheers.

[Gema13]

I'd say wait a little. The best time would be as it's getting colder about October. We have pruned our fruit trees just after they start growing new shoots, a great tip from a friend that increases yield.

[WendyC]

Whatever you do cherries and plums are pruned when in active growth to avoid infection with silver leaf disease. Do you have any pictures as it's difficult to advise without pictures? Certainly remove any dead or crossing branches on your pear and apple.
As far as planting out goes, if your soil is frozen or waterlogged I'd wait for slightly better condition, but be planted out anytime really, assuming it is growing outside now.

[boundtothesoil]

It's definitely not too early to prune your apple trees, but leave plums and cherries as the others say. For apples, cold dry weather during winter is ideal.

I wouldn't leave apple tree pruning until the trees begin to produce new growth in the spring.
Here's a couple of quotes from the MAFF Technical Bulletin No.20 'Apples' (last version published 1972) on the subject of timing of pruning.

p112. ' It is advisable that all winter pruning should be completed while the trees are completely dormant, but no serious damage results if some pruning has to be finished after the buds have begun to swell. Late pruning, that is after the buds have broken into growth, checks growth, which is usually undesirable, but in some cases , for example with over vigorous growth, it may be used with advantage to reduce the vigour of the whole tree or parts of it.'

[Kristen]

I wouldn't leave it until the trees begin to produce new growth in the spring.

For Apples I agree, but Cherries should wait until active growth.

[boundtothesoil]

For Apples I agree, but Cherries should wait until active growth.

Kristen,
Yes, I should have said it applies to apples and pears only. Will edit post to clarify.