Fruit pruning book suggestions please...

[lmayhow]

Hello hello

Could I trouble those with book suggestions of fruit pruning please. We have brought a house with three apple and two pear all miniature. They have not done so well with fruit this year and I am sure they are not the right shape or been pruned correctly by me last winter, have tried reading numerous web pages but finding it all a little confusing. Thinking I could put it on my Xmas list.

Thank you

[Guest]

I think books can be just as confusing. I would put pics on here with as much info as possible (rootstock, variety, what you want to achieve, ground or pots etc.) Least then the answers are tailored to your needs.

As a rule you remove dead, diseased and damaged branches first. Then you can look at removing to improve airflow, encouraging spurs if needs be and overall shape. You should try not to remove more than a third as you could send the tree into shock. Also with apples and pears you want to prune on a fine day in winter when the trees are dormant.

[WendyC]

My go-to book on pruning is "The Pruner's Handbook" by John Malins. Covers all kinds of plants including fruit.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pruners-Han...uners+handbook

FB's recommendation for fruit is Growing Fruit by Harry Baker

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horticultur...ui+Harry+baker