How to Prune Peach Trees in 7 Easy Steps

• The tools to use depends on which type of branch you are cutting. In all cases though, be sure to sterilize the tools with hot soapy water or disinfectant to prevent any damage or infection. Moreover make sure they are sharp so that the branches don’t get bruised.
  • For small branches and twigs, use hand pruners. 
  • For large branches about 1” thick, use loppers. These provide good leverage.
  • For branches about 3” thick and more, use a saw. 

• Peach trees are best grown in an open center/vase shape with about 3-5 evenly-spaced 45 degree angled main branches.
• This shape doesn’t have a central leader so it allows sunlight to enter. However, this form can have weaker branches due to the angle and more shade from the leaves of the upper branches.

• When you plant a young tree
  • Remove the lower branches that are growing less than 18″ feet above the ground.
  • Then, prune any branches that are growing upward in the center to create the vase shape.
  • Choose 3-5 evenly-spaced 45 degree main branches and cut the rest. These branches should be about 18-36″ above the ground.
• If you get a young tree that does not have 3-5 evenly spaced branches
  • Prune the leader back to 30 inches above the soil surface and remove the other lateral branches in order to promote the growth of these scaffold branches.
• In the first growing season, prune non-primary scaffold branches so that there are 3 to 5 primary scaffold branches evenly spaced around the trunk.
• Then, during the spring of the second season, cut back scaffold branches.
• In the early spring of the third growing season, prune the scaffold branches.

• You know if a branch is dead if it’s brittle and breaks very easily.
• You usually know if a branch is diseased if the wood is a different color than the other branches around it. 
• You’ll see a damaged branch when it has partially broken from the weight of the fruits. Additionally, when two branches have crossed and rubbed against one another this can also damage the wood.
• Once you have identified the branches with the 3 D’s, then cut the wood back to the nearest bud where the wood is still healthy. 

What is a sucker?

• Suckers are thin shoots or branches which grow near the base of the trunk. They grow because the tree is attempting to grow more branches possibly as a response to an injury.
• Prune the suckers so that they don’t grow below the canopy of the tree.

• First, identify the branches growing downward. Then prune them since they won’t be able to bear the weight of the fruit.  Additionally upward growing branches may damage other branches so prune them as well.
• Also prune any branches growing inward so that they don’t rub against other branches.

What are whorls?

• Whorls are places where three or more small branches grow from the same location.
• Once you identify the whorls then choose the healthier and strongest one, and prune the rest. After all, the branch won’t be able to support all of the small branches growing in this one location. 

• The fruit will develop on one-year-old wood so prune back these red shoots to about 18 inches. Consequently, these new branches will be more supported by the sturdier branches and easier to harvest from.
• In general, it is good for the tree to have the branches cut back by a fourth so that new growth is encouraged. The stems will become thicker and develop flowers.
• However, make sure to make these cuts just above a bud that faces outward.

• Lastly, thin out the fruiting buds so that they are 4-6” apart. This will ensure that the branch bears just enough weight from the fruit. Additionally, if there are too many fruiting buds, then the fruit may not develop their high sugar levels.