It’s amazing how much tasty fruit you can grow in a small backyard. A key factor is maintaining fruit trees to a manageable height. Any growth that you can’t reach while standing flatfooted on the ground, can’t be managed, netted, or pruned properly, so it is a waste of space and nutrients.

Pruning is traditionally done in winter, but here in Australia, our main pruning should be done in late summer to reduce rampant warm season growth and redirect the trees energy into next year’s fruit instead of lots of inedible leafy growth. Cut back anything above reach-height to an outward facing bud, thin out any growth towards the centre and then prune according to tree type.

This workshop covers correct pruning and maintenance methods for each fruit tree group, as well as how to prune a newly bought fruit tree.