Tips for pruning fruit trees

All fruit trees should be pruned during the dormant season, preferable late February or March.  With a few simple rules and some patience anyone can prune and improve production of their fruit trees.  The number one rule of thumb is that sunlight should be allowed to penetrate all parts of the tree.  Therefore, if one branch is shading another, one of should be removed.  Remove any downward or vertically growing branches, as they are unproductive.  Remove any branches that are rubbing against another branch.  Remove one side of a branch that has a "fork" in it.  Finally, if your tree is overgrown and has not been pruned in a while, do not try to do it all in one year.  Pruning encourages vegetation, which compete with fruiting.  Rather, take about 3 years to bring the tree back in balance.