Hi, we have purchased a property with established fruit trees that have not had any maintenance in years. How do I prune: nashi pear, hazelnut, peach, apple, persimmon and what should I do to prepare them for a good fruiting season next year?

Hi Twyla, there are some very good YouTube videos on pruning fruit trees. Assuming these are well established trees and not newly planted so they already have a frame work. Rule of thumb for all pruning, remove any dead dying diseased and weak growth.

Nashi pear - remove growth that is cross-crossing inside the frame work, you need to open up the canopy so that sun can ripen the fruit. Leave 4-6 main branches and cut the rest back to the trunk. Trim the branches by half to approx. 60-90cm long. Make sure the cuts are sloping at a 45 degree angle downwards so that water runs off the cut and doesn’t allow water to pool and give rise to disease entering the tree. Seal wounds with a suitable pruning paste or water based paint.

Apple – create an open vase shape canopy to ensure light can get in to ripen the fruit and there is good air circulation around the tree. The small stubby growth on the branches are fruiting spurs and shouldn’t be removed as that is where the tree will flower and ultimately fruit from.

Hazelnut – don’t respond well to hard pruning, only prune part of the tree each year to encourage new growth. Cut new growth back by half. Prune once the nuts have fallen off the tree. Prune out any dead branches.

Persimmon – create a pyramid shape, only prune half the tree (not the whole tree) as fruit is formed on the tips of last year’s growth.

Peach – create an open vase shape with 4-6 main branches to ensure fruit is ripened, prune to an outward facing bud, sloping cut to remove spindly, dead, dying and diseased wood. Fruit is formed on last year’s growth so don’t remove the whole branch, remove any vertical branches as these will be hard to pick the fruit from. Try and keep the tree low and open, about 6-7 feet high.

All fruit trees benefit from a regular feeding regime to provide the right nutrients for maximum tree health and top crops. Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser is suitable for your fruit trees planted in the garden or in pots and containers. Feed in spring and summer to provide your fruit trees a balanced and even spread of all essential nutrients for maximum fruiting and flowering.