Two plants gardening expert urges you to prune now for ‘extremely strong spring growth’ (Image: Getty)
is necessary for various reasons. Winter pruning aims to encourage vigour so that fruit trees are productive and shrubs don’t outgrow their space.
Most plants enter a dormant state during winter. This is when they stop active growth and hibernate due to the cold weather. This dormancy makes late winter an excellent time to adjust the shapes of many plants – especially trees and shrubs.
William Mitchell from has suggested a variety of tasks to undertake this month – one of which is pruning. More specifically, he encouraged gardeners to prune their apple and pear trees this month.
He stated: “The pruning of both apple and pear trees is best done over the colder winter months. Traditionally, it is done between November and March, meaning that January is the perfect time to start the pruning process of your fruit trees.”
Winter pruning offers numerous benefits. One of them is that it “encourages extremely strong spring growth”. Additionally, the decrease in leaves allows you to see more of your tree’s shape and structure.
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When to prune your plants (Image: EXPRESS)
How to prune apple trees
Begin by removing dead, diseased or weak growth and any crossing branches. On spur-bearing trees, reduce the length of main branches by about a third.
Make a slanted cut-down away from a good, outward-facing bud to prevent rain from pooling on it.
Keep an eye on the tree’s overall shape before you make any further cuts. Side shoots, known as laterals, should be left over winter to produce fruit buds. Remove any growth heading towards the tree’s centre, reducing air and light.
On well-established trees, thin out any congested fruit spurs. Start with those on the underside of branches as fruit there will struggle to ripen.
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Pruning apple trees now will spur on fruit (Image: Getty)
Shorten others to leave the strongest, allowing space for developing fruit. On tip-bearing trees, stop branches getting too long by cutting back some of the older stems to a younger shoot.
How to prune pear trees
Start by removing any weak, dead, dying or diseased wood. Next, reduce the length of the main branches by about a third.
Cut them back to a good, outward-facing bud, making a slanted cut-down away from the bud to prevent rain from pooling on it.
The side shoots, known as laterals, should be left over winter unless they are crossing another branch, which can lead to rubbing and disease.
Remove any growth that is heading towards the tree’s centre. This will reduce light and air, resulting in poor fruit ripening and a greater risk of disease.
If the fruit-producing spurs are too crowded, remove some. Start with those on the underside of branches as fruit there will struggle to ripen.
Shorten others to leave the strongest with plenty of space for developing fruit.
Certain types of pear trees bear fruit at the ends of shoots, known as tip-bearing. To prevent overcrowding, these should have some of their older branches pruned back annually to a robust shoot.