"Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."

~ Saying of the Gladdagh Gypsies of Galway


Thursday, February 2, 2012

Pruning in the Orchard


Believe it or not, it is already time to start the pruning in the orchard.


Allen started this past weekend and has been trying to do a few each day when he gets home from work.


Gesh - look at all those suckers - it is amazing those are from one season! To think we pruned all those off last year too! (Pic Above)


 This tree is finished!

 So is this one!

 This one...not so much! That one will be a bear!!

Fresh cuts!

We are sure hoping this goofy, warmer winter we are having doesn't throw our trees into an early bloom. Working with Mother Nature can be quite the challenge!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I know nada about trees, esp fruit bearing ones. I take it you do not want those multiple tall thin growths on the trees - do they take away nutrients for the apples?

suzanne said...

Allison~!

What a gorgeous property you have! Oh how I wish I could walk your orchard in Summer... Your little one must just love the walks you take him on. Thank you for your comment you left. I will let you know should our snail mail parcel arrive~

Love to you and a happy weekend of pruning..

Lots of love
Suzanne
X

Tami said...

So glad you wrote this post and I love seeing the before and after pics. Tell us more if you would.

I have 3 apples and 1 peach that are only a few years old. Two are going into their 3 year and I hope to prune this weekend. Any tips to offer?

It's good to see that you don't have to allow the tree to get HUGE to bear fruit. I'd like to keep them reasonable size wise.

The Unusual Farmchick said...

I too took advantage of the odd warmth as a head start to our apple pruning. Yours are far more in great shape compared to what I have to work with...and much shorter! lol. Your trees are so beautiful with branches reaching for the sky. Seeing them in such a bare state gives visions of their delicate smelling blossoms. Don't ya just love when their petals begin to fall? A Spring breeze caressing through their limbs as the blossoms dance their way about. Such a magical moment where the rest of the world slips away...