An open-center structure keeps the tree's canopy open to light, which is necessary.

Mar 12, Increase your harvest by pruning your apple tree in these 5 easy steps. Never miss a new video! Sign up to our email list here: bushfalling.bar Read our series of articles about how to grow apple trees in the Stark Bro's Growing Guide and soon you too can be growing apple trees.

Help Live Chat Why Shop with Us This section also covers pruning apple trees, which prefer a central- or main-leader structure. This article focuses on pruning fruit trees to an open center. Read about pruning fruit trees that prefer a main/central-leader structure here.

3. Know the best times to prune your fruit trees: winter or early spring – when trees are dormant. Watch Elmer demonstrate how to prune a young tree in this video». Stark Bro's bare root fruit trees are grown for 2 years in our nursery rows. The first year, the rootstocks are established and the trees are budded/grafted.

The second year is when the trees put on a mountain of top growth! After this second year, the trees are dug up to be shipped to you.

The digging process can break many of the tree's fine. Mar 12, - To get a new fruit tree off to the right start, virtually nothing is as important as proper pruning.

Follow our pruning guide to avoid mistakes and shape your trees.

It is beneficial in supporting the heavy fruit crops of certain stone-fruit trees, since it is primarily based on the natural growth habit of the trees.

Most trees produce fruit on the previous year’s long stems and on short branches (spurs), each of which will bear fruit for several years. Each year, cut out a portion of the older fruiting wood to keep rejuvenating the tree.

Prune back each of last year’s stems to half its length.