How to Prune Georgia Peach Trees
- 1). Gather the hand pruners and wheelbarrow and take them to the tree. Consider using fabric gloves if it's a cool day or you don't want any scrapes on your hands during the task. Collects the pruning twig debris in the wheelbarrow for ease of removal later on.
- 2). Examine the peach tree that needs pruning in very late winter. Look for vigorous, upright branches called watersprouts. Remove these vertical whip-like twigs from all over the tree, making a cut with the hand pruners 1/4-inch above their attachment to a lower branch or trunk on the peach tree. Toss debris into the wheelbarrow.
Branches that remain should be more horizontal and structured in their appearance, with tiny swelling buds. - 3). Look for any dead and diseased branches in the tree. Dead branches and twigs will look gray and be brittle. Diseased types will be discolored, carrying wounds, strange growths, webs or larval insects. Make each pruning cut 1/4-inch above the branch's junction with a lower, healthy branch. Consider placing diseased debris in a separate pile, as you will not want to place this in your compost pile.
- 4). Remove any broken twigs or branches, too. Again, make the cut 1/4-inch above the point where the damaged twig meets a main branch or trunk. Take care as you work in the tree, too, so your movement does not add to the number of snapped, healthy branches in the peach tree.
- 5). Prune away any remaining branches in the peach tree canopy that are rubbing against each other or growing awkwardly across the center of the tree. Wind exacerbates rubbing wounds on twigs and branches, so remove them promptly to avoid later issues. Removing inward-growing branches promotes good penetration of sunlight and air into the crown of the peach tree so that all main branches remain healthy.
- 6). Gather all healthy debris in the wheelbarrow and place in or on your compost pile. Diseased twigs and branches should be thrown in the trash or located in a refuse pile far from the orchard and burned, ideally.
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