Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Apples and pears should be pruned and trained when they are
quite young or else they will become difficult to manage and
produce inferior fruit. The objective of training the tree is to
provide optimal air circulation and sunlight while keeping the
fruit low enough to the ground so that it can be picked
without a crane.
It is easiest for a mini-farmer is to select dwarf or semidwarf
trees from the beginning. This will reduce pruning
requirements and make maintenance easier and safer. Ideally,
the tree will be pruned so that the shape is similar to a
Christmas tree, which will allow maximum penetration of
sunlight and easiest spraying while keeping the greatest bulk
of the fruit closest to the ground.
Pears are a bit easier than apples to keep pest free.
A large number of articles on the specifics of pruning and
training pomme fruits are available, but it isn't hard to master
if a few rules are followed. (Apples, pears, and quinces are
