In August, UK gardens are entering the final stretch of the growing season. The days may still be warm and long, but now is the time to start thinking ahead and giving fruit trees the care they need before autumn arrives.
While many are laden with harvests, others have finished fruiting. Some varieties even benefit from a late-summer prune.
“August is an excellent month for pruning several fruit trees, helping to improve fruit quality, encourage healthy growth and reduce the risk of disease,” says Amber Tunney, plant buyer at Cherry Lane Garden Centres.
Read on to find out the particular fruit trees that benefit from a pruning session now – and others that should be left until later in the year.
Pome fruit trees 
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Don’t prune: young and untrained trees
Established apples and pears trees can be pruned in mid to late August, once the base of this year’s new shoots has started to turn woody.
“Trained apple trees should be pruned to improve light and air circulation, helping fruit ripen more effectively,” says Amber. “Remove bushy upright shoots to allow more light into the tree and shorten any shoots longer than around 20cm.”
The same approach can be used for trained pear trees. Continue watering during dry spells and harvest fruit promptly if branches become too heavy.
Avoid summer pruning on young or untrained trees, as it can slow their growth. Save any structural pruning for winter, when the trees are dormant.
Stone fruit trees
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Don’t prune: trees that haven’t yet been harvested
Plums, damsons, cherries, apricots should all be pruned soon after harvesting to help reduce the risk of fungal or leaf diseases. Do this in early August, when it’s still warm and dry, as there’s a higher risk of infections entering fresh pruning cuts when the temperatures fall.
“Pruning stone fruit trees in August helps to prevent diseases, as the spores for common fungal diseases are less common or can be inactive in summer weather,” explains Richard Barker, horticultural expert at LBS Horticulture.
“Similarly to pome fruit trees, cut back any vertical, unwanted branches shooting straight up from the centre of the tree. Shoots produced in the current year should be cut back to an outward facing bud, as this will help to maintain an open, goblet shape for the tree.”
If your tree hasn’t yet been harvested, wait until the fruit has been picked before reaching for the secateurs.
Fig trees 
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Don’t prune: too heavily
As the UK’s climate becomes warmer, figs are becoming increasingly rewarding to grow – and a light prune now can result in even sweeter and fruits.
“Pruning fig trees in August stops the tree from wasting its energy on producing new shoots, meaning current figs receive more nutrients and sun,” says Richard. “It will also clear away any very small, late-summer figs that would not have enough time to mature before the end of autumn.”
Don’t go too heavy, though. Focus on trims that will help fruit ripen. “Snip off the soft, growing tips of long, new shoots once they have around five or six leaves.
“Any small, late-forming figlets at the tips of new growth should be removed as they will not have enough time to ripen before autumn. Stopping this growth will force the tree to put its energy into ripening the main crop of figs currently on the branches.”
Any major reshaping should be done in winter when the tree is fully dormant.
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
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