Another Almond Tree

RachT

Hi,

I have an old almond tree, which is well overdue a prune. It has branches growing in all directions and last spring a large branch was torn off in a gale.
After that we had an arborist come and tidy it up, but they didn't take much off, I guess because it was too late in spring to prune it.
Now we're left with half a tree, and I'm sure some of that wood is dead. I'd like to try and encourage new growth on the damaged side and prevent any more wind damage in the coming months.

We've been here 12 months, so I don't know when the tree was last pruned.

Any tips on pruning? How much to take off, what tools to use etc. Can anyone recommend a good book I could use to learn to prune? (The tree surgeon was quite expensive)

Thank you.
(Perth, Australia)

Attached Thumbnails

 

Sean Freeman

Hello RachT, I'll attach a pdf that has very simplified diagrams on the desirable form to which a young almond tree should be pruned for nut production. However let me make a few points as well hopefully they will both make sense and be useful to you and others.

Whenever we are asked to prune trees for any client we make sure that they (the client) understand what is to be cut and why, what the predicted outcome of the cuting will be, and if we are limited in the dose applicable to the tree (the amount of live tissue removed) why that is and how soon we would need to return to complete the works.

Old and storm damaged trees are tricky and sensitive to prune. The older a tree becomes the less live tissue you can remove before adversely impacting the long term health of the tree. Its very hard to tell from your photo just what the form of the tree is really like, its impossible (of course) to tell what was removed and why. It would be dissapointing if you can't get the Arborist to return briefly and reinspect the tree to give you a quick verbal on its current health and future prescritions for any works (of which additional pruning may well not be one)

The best book on pruning I have is Edward F Gilman's An Illustrated Guide to Pruning ISBN 0-7668-2271-0 published by Delmar Thompson Learning.
However as I've tried to indicate there is a lot more to pruning trees than knowing where and how to cut...dose is the key principal and I'm afraid there is no single book that can deliver that knowledge and understanding, it differs for every tree species/age/vigor/vitality/environment/season etc.....

So please try to get in touch with the Arborist you used, if they are no help go here http://www.treeguild.com/contractors.shtml and find a qualified contractor who will come out and help you.

http.pdf_almonds-garden-h3136.pdf

FS2006_FRUITPRUNING_MSIVYER.pdf

Eric Frei

Hey, I love pruning, I should move somewhere where people have fruit trees.

Those links Boa put up will serve you well.

You dont have to do it all in one year either, do half now and half next year maybe.

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