Fruit Tree Pruning

The pruning season has come to an end, as buds have broken, leaves have appeared, and some trees are flowering. This season we pruned over 70 apple, crabapple, pear, cherry, peach, and other fruit trees in Lyndeborough, Greenfield, Hancock, and Peterborough, NH. Most of these trees had not been pruned or released for almost a decade. Maintaining fruit trees is an important aspect of conservation. The flowers are valuable pollinator habitat, the fruits are enjoyed by wildlife and people alike, and the diversity of varieties and strains protects our region from large scale destruction by tree pests and pathogens. Furthermore, unpruned fruit trees can look unsightly and will not live as long as well cared for trees. It is sad to see many of the once lively and productive orchards in southwestern NH growing in and falling apart. We are proud to be part of the effort to revitalize and restore these important trees throughout the region, and we applaud the efforts of commercial orchards and private landowners who are maintaining this tradition despite difficult economic pressures. As the global economy continues to change and localization becomes even more important, we will be thankful for those who took the effort to keep these trees healthy and abundant. If you have fruit trees on your property and would like a professional assessment of their health and options for conservation, call us up and we'll take a look. However, we won't be pruning again until March 2010.