PEACH TREE TIPS! #garden #fruit #tree #peach #pruning #landscape #education #gardentips

Hey Good People!
Peach trees produce fruit on new wood, which is the growth from the previous year. This means that the peaches you harvest this year will grow on the branches that grew last year.

Identifying New Growth vs. Old Growth
The color of the branches can help you distinguish between new growth and old growth on a peach tree:
New growth: New peach tree branches are typically green or reddish-green in color. They are also usually smooth and flexible.
Old growth: Old peach tree branches are usually gray or brown in color. They are also often rougher and thicker than new growth.

Why This Matters for Pruning?
Knowing that peach trees fruit on new wood is essential for proper pruning. When pruning a peach tree, you want to encourage new growth while also maintaining a healthy structure. Here are some key points to remember:
Prune in late winter or early spring: This is the best time to prune peach trees, as it allows the tree to focus its energy on producing new growth in the spring.
Focus on thinning: Thinning out the canopy helps to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, which encourages new growth and fruit production.
Head back new growth: Heading back the new growth by about one-third encourages the tree to produce more fruiting wood for the following year.
Remove dead or diseased wood: Always remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain the health of the tree.

By understanding how peach trees produce fruit and how to identify new growth, you can prune your trees properly to maximize fruit production while maintaining the health and vigor of your trees.