El almond It is one of the most beloved fruit trees: its incredible resistance to drought and its beautiful flowers that cover it almost completely, in addition to its delicious fruits, make it a fruit tree that practically everyone who lives in a more or less warm climate , take the opportunity to plant one ... or several. Although it is a tree that requires little maintenance once it is established (something that you will achieve in just a year), from time to time you have to trim the branches: not only to make it look more beautiful, but also to make it easier for you. much easier to reach its delicious almonds. Discover when are the almond trees pruned.
In this article we are going to tell you when the almond trees are pruned and how you should do it.
Main characteristics of the almond tree
El almond, whose scientific name is Almond, is one of the fruit trees that grows best in calcareous, clayey soil. It reaches a height of about 5m, although it can be taller if it is allowed to grow on its own. In cultivation they are normally kept at a height of 4m, as this way the gardener or gardener can make sure that he will be able to collect all the almonds from the tree. But, When are almond trees pruned?
Well, since it is a deciduous tree, which means that it runs out of them in autumn until spring, it is highly recommended to prune it during those months, except in the middle of winter, preferably after all its leaves have fallen, or before let it resume its growth. However, there is a problem: climate.
As you may have already noticed, the climate is changing. Winters are getting shorter and shorter, summers seem to 'join' with autumn ... Anyway. All this directly influences plants: in its growth, in its rest,… So, how can I know when is the best time to prune an almond tree?
Well, we know the theory: in autumn or late winter. But sometimes you prune in February (if you are in the Northern Hemisphere) because the flowers are already beginning to appear and a cold wave comes after a week, damaging the plant (not seriously). What to do in these cases? For the moment, I advise you You can immediately let its leaves have fallen or, if you want to wait, do it in spring, after the risk of frost has passed. That way you may be forced to prune in March, but then at least the almond tree will not suffer significant damage.
When are almond trees pruned
We know that each type of tree has specific characteristics that we must take into account in order to get the most out of fruit production. These conditions are what make the almond tree a highly produced tree in Spain and there are cultivation and pruning specialists that they have been perfecting the techniques to be able to increase production. Knowing when the almond trees are pruned is of vital importance in the whole process of almond cultivation. Depending on the type of pruning and it is and the time of year to do it has been chosen well or not, production can be further optimized and healthy trees rich in almonds can be seen.
Pruning is necessary in all cases since it is not only a necessity from the point of view of production, but it is also a beneficial activity for the health of these trees. And it is that when the almond trees are pruned, excessive ramifications are eliminated and the direction of the growth of the branches is corrected to offer a new opportunity to grow in a balanced way.
The improvement in the quality and quantity of production is a direct consequence of the good condition of the almond trees. We are going to see what are the different types of pruning that the almond tree has.
Types of pruning
There are basically 4 types of pruning that are used in the almond tree. Each one of them has a different objective and they take place at a different time of year. We are going to see what the different types of pruning are and when the almond trees are pruned.
When are almond trees pruned ?: formation pruning
It is one that is done when the tree is young and you want it to take a specific shape to grow in a balanced way. Thanks to this pruning later you can pick the almonds more easily. Growth must be well controlled during the first few years for that approach correctly. More or less, it is the first 4 seasons that this type of pruning must be carried out to help the tree to have a consistent structure and have healthy branches.
Fruiting pruning
Once they have passed the first 4 seasons, the tree needs to change. Each year suckers and extensions must be removed and the dead or weak branches removed so that the rest of the healthy branches can continue to grow as a force. Care must be taken to maintain the balance of the entire tree. The main objective is to be able to extend productivity and that the branches do not suffer.
Restoration pruning
It is the one that tries to recover the strength of the almond tree. We know that with the passage of time the almond tree loses strength and its branches age. Restoration pruning attempts to restart the production cycle and increase the generation of quality almonds. This pruning is more used for those diseased or healthy trees that are already in a period of aging. If the tree has too thick branches and they are already in decline you have to do a very aggressive pruning. The problem with this type of aggressive pruning is that the tree can end up dying.
Pruning in green
This type of pruning is carried out after the flowering process and the collection of the fruit. Shoots are usually thinned out and most new shoots are removed to avoid excessive branching.
What is the pruning season for the almond tree?
We are going to see which is the best time of year to know when the almond trees are pruned. It is necessary to take advantage of the moments in which the almond tree is not in vegetative growth or flowering process to carry out the pruning. We know that the rest of the almond tree coincides with the beginning of autumn or the end of winter. In this way, the farmer ensures that the almond tree do not suffer frost that could harm you.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about when the almond trees are pruned and how to do it.
I have an almond tree and I am thinking of pruning it now in autumn, I live in Valencia, it has suffered gum disease but it is already solved, it is 3 years old and has never put in an almond. Thank you
Hi Katy.
Yes, you can prune it now, but since it had gummies, I would recommend waiting until February / March and pruning it before it sprouts.
A greeting.
Hello I am from Chile and I just cut only the tip for the almond tree guide and it is very icy in k it can influence you THANKS
Hello Pilar.
When pruning or trimming the guide of a plant, it responds by producing lower branches than the following year, they can also be trimmed to shape the tree.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, can I change a l7gar almond tree? Because it is tilted and its branches are down to the ground, a snowfall tilted it
Hello Arcadia.
Do you have it in a pot or on the ground? I ask this because if you have it in a pot, you can put it straight by adding more soil and replanting it; If it is on the ground, you can put a tutor on it. In the event that you want to move it, it is better to do it at the end of winter.
A greeting.
Well, I have some almond trees I planted them and they are five years old and they tell me that it is necessary to insert them because they do not bear fruit that is true
Hey.
All fruit trees bear fruit. But for the almond tree to be able to give them it is necessary that there be a male and a female foot, or that it is grafted.
A greeting.
Good. We have an almond tree that was in the garden when we bought the house. The poor man does not have a pretty shape, he is crooked and his branches grow in a disorderly way. It should be about five meters tall. My question is: what can we do to give your glass a proper shape and make it look like a garden almond tree? It gives us a lot of almonds, of good quality and we enjoy it, despite its ramshackle appearance 🙂
Hello Mª Jose.
Yes, you can prune it at the end of winter.
You can trim the branches that are too long, and the others if necessary.
The cup must have a more or less rounded shape.
If you want, send us a photo by Facebook and I tell you better.
A greeting.
Hi there! I have had an almond tree in the yard for 20 years, I have pruned it sometime, but it is wild and very ugly. This is the first year that it has almost no buds or flowers and I don't know what to do. I have affection for him. It had gummies but now I don't know if it has or if I'm pouring too much water on it for it to sprout, I would appreciate your advice.
A abrazo.
Hello Maria Victoria.
How often do you water it? I tell you that I myself in the garden have one and it takes care only with the 350mm of water that falls each year in the form of rain.
It is a tree that resists drought well once it has been planted in the ground for some time.
My advice would be that: don't water it so much 🙂. This is likely to do well for you.
A greeting.
Good Morning. I have almond trees that my father planted about fifty years ago and they have hardly been pruned, so they are wild. Now I have taken over the farm and would like to take care of them. I live in Bailén (Jaén) where the climate is mild. My questions are: when should I prune them? What fertilizer and when to use it? Do you have to do chemical treatments?
Thanks and regards.
Hello Benjamin.
Being in Jaén and as these trees in the Mediterranean bloom and, as who says two days later they already have ripening almonds, I recommend you prune them in autumn, when the leaves have fallen.
Regarding the compost, if they have been 50 years and have grown wild, they do not need it much 🙂. But if you want to »pamper» them a little, you can add guano, which is very rich in nutrients (you have more information in this link). You can buy it at any nursery, but if you can't find it, you can get it at amazon.com
Regarding chemical treatments: no, they are not necessary at the moment. If you see any plague or strange thing, write to us again and we will tell you.
A greeting.
Hello, very good information, I am from the south of Chile and for 5 years I have had 3 almond trees I have dared to do it due to the climate change that is taking place, and last year they flourished, now to hope that they will produce something and soon.
Hi Gladys.
Congratulations on those almond trees 🙂
A greeting.