How to Prune a Dwarf Peach Tree
- 1). Remove any branches that crisscross. This opens up the tree and allows sunlight and oxygen to reach the canopy area of the tree, which helps to avoid pests and potential diseases.
- 2). Remove branches that are growing longer or wider than the rest of the tree. The tree should grow in a somewhat uniform fashion, and if you have one limb that is growing faster than the rest of the tree, you should prune it. This technique, known as "size pruning," keeps the tree from growing to an un-manageable size or becoming unhealthy due to its excess size. Allowing the branches to grow too far weakens the plant, which—because of its small size—cannot support the weight of the longer branches.
- 3). Prune any branches that grow below the canopy of the tree. These branches are generally starved for sunlight, and produce less fruit, which is smaller and generally bitter tasting.
- 4). Remove the fruit as it ripens. Fruit that is allowed to rot on the branch attracts insects, which may harm the tree or spread to the rest of the fruit. Ripe peaches are roughly palm-sized, have matured fuzz, and are slightly squishy in the center.
