Dwarf Nectarine and Apricot Tree Pruning

[Artisan]

I have dwarf nectarine and dwarf apricot trees that I planted in containers around this time last year. Although they are both growing well neither tree produced any fruit. I am not concerned about that as I wanted them to develop a good root system and top growth.

As expected the trees are growing well and are getting taller than I want. Can I prune them back now, say, by one third of the new growth? Will pruning now affect the fruit production next year? And what time of year is it normal to prune these trees? Is it the same time as apple trees?

If anyone can help me out with these questions I would very grateful.

[mosstrooper]

Leave them to grow would be my advice. I have a two year old nectarine in a pot and it has just finished fruiting. The fruit is produced on year old wood so pruning would have an adverse effect.
Having said that, i.m still learning about pruning so someone with more experience may chip in.
Edited to add, wood that has produced fruit is pruned off at harvesting. It makes more sense when you actually do it rather than read it

[nickdub]

I can help a bit on the timing - any pruning on these sort of trees should be done when they are growing well, as it means they are less susceptible to getting diseases via the cuts - so now or a little earlier in the year would be an OK time to prune them. Obviously this is different from apples, which for the most part are pruned in the winter.

As for whether its a good idea to prune etc., I'll leave that to someone who has more experience than me, but suffice it to say that these trees develop fruiting spurs a bit more like plums than apples.

[devonuk]

If they need a haircut, they need a haircut - I find potted peaches/nectarines sprout like crazy and need keeping in bounds. You are indeed cutting off fruiting growth (they fruit next year on this year's growth), but if things go right they fruit so freely that that is not a problem. Apricots are a bit less mad, but I can see no harm in taking the top third off the leaders and spurs. Unlike nectarines they fruit on 2 yo and older wood, so leave a permanent framework as you would with an apple tree.

[Artisan]

If they need a haircut, they need a haircut - I find potted peaches/nectarines sprout like crazy and need keeping in bounds. You are indeed cutting off fruiting growth (they fruit next year on this year's growth), but if things go right they fruit so freely that that is not a problem. Apricots are a bit less mad, but I can see no harm in taking the top third off the leaders and spurs. Unlike nectarines they fruit on 2 yo and older wood, so leave a permanent framework as you would with an apple tree.

Thank you for the advice . I'll give them a trim.

[DannyK]

Just been out this morning after the rain and wind yesterday. The top 8' of my apricot snapped off by wind.

I was wondering what to do about the height!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/103667.../shares/5D9718

[nickdub]

Just been out this morning after the rain and wind yesterday. The top 8' of my apricot snapped off by wind.

I was wondering what to do about the height!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/103667.../shares/5D9718

Looks like a good tree.

For now, I'd say saw the broken end off so that the top of the cut is level with the top of the first branch coming out for the trunk, preferably at a slight angle up with the higher side next to the branch. Then clean the edges around the sawn surface with a sharp knife to get it as smooth as possible. This will make it easier for the tree to heal over and so help prevent disease, and the angle helps stop rain water collecting there.

Whether you want to do any subsequent pruning to other branches depends really on what shape you want for the tree.