Walnut trees grow very fast andare developing. The first crop is harvested at 5-6 year of life. In addition, these fruits contain a huge amount of useful microelements that a person needs. Walnut pruning is necessary for the correct formation of the crown, this procedure will also help to avoid the appearance of various diseases.
The timing of the year
Experienced gardeners recommend spring.It is best to prune after the end of the frost, but before the start of the growing season. The tree must be at rest. Under these conditions, it can recover faster, and the risk of damage to the crop will be minimized.
Walnut pruning in autumn is carried out forto prepare the tree for winter as best you can. At this time of the year, it is necessary to remove all dry and damaged branches so that bacteria or pests cannot settle in them. Sanitary pruning is the best prevention of any disease.
Required Tools
Before starting work, you need to prepare special tools, thanks to which the process will be much simpler and more pleasant:
- Pruner - used to remove the thinnest branches (no more than 20 mm thick). It looks like a tool like scissors with bulging blades.
- Lopper - by the principle of work and appearance reminds secateurs with long handles. Able to remove branches up to 50 mm thick.
- Garden saw - no different from the usual, with the exception of the sickle-shaped blade, whose length in the majority is 30-35 cm.
- Chainsaw - It may be necessary to remove thick branches, in addition, it will help get rid of knots of medium thickness in a shorter period of time.
- Garden knife - needed to remove the green part of the plant and soft, one-year-old branches. Also it is very convenient to use it when cleaning various mechanical damages.
- Stairs – как известно, высота дерева намного больше, чем human's height. In this case, the most simple and effective assistant in the implementation of pruning will be a stepladder. Professional samples will help to rise to a height of 8 meters.
Since walnut pruning is a complex and painstaking procedure, when working with various tools one should not forget about personal protective equipment (gloves, glasses, etc.).
Technology of work
- Before cutting a thick branch, it is necessary to incise it from the opposite side. Such a trick will help avoid the occurrence of scorching of the cortex.
- Trimming thin knots, you need to leave a process 1-2 mm long after the first kidney.
- When removing branches, the thickness of which will be more2 centimeters, experienced gardeners recommend to grease the cut with a garden pitch. This procedure will help to avoid infection and the desiccation of parts of the tree.
Crown formation
In the first year of life on a small tree is formedcrown consisting of 4-5 branches. If there are no signs of any diseases, remove all other shoots at the stage of development of the kidneys. In the case of the manifestation of any disease all the shoots should be left until the end of summer. In August, the crown is freed from unnecessary branches.
In the second year should be made directlycrown formation. Pruning walnut trees begins with shortening all branches to two buds. One of them will be the main, and the other spare. If both are born, then the second must be removed. From the rest will grow a sprout about 60 centimeters long, it will have to be shortened to two buds.
Then, over the uppermost main branch, the center conductor is cut off.
Once the crown is formed, it is recommended to leave the tree alone and for several seasons only carry out penetrating and sanitary work to remove excess seedlings and unnecessary branches.
Trimming the old walnut. Tree rejuvenation
It often happens that trees are simplystart and stop producing good yields. Fruits begin to appear only closer to the trunk. To cope with this situation, you need to make a rejuvenating pruning.
The best time is the beginning of spring, but onlywhen the threat of frost is completely over. In this case, the tree will be able to recuperate and begin to correctly form its crown already in this season.
Trimming the walnut (perennial) beginswith the removal of dry knots at the top. This procedure will enhance the transmission to the crown of light and air. They are necessary for high-quality fruiting. Next, you need to correctly form a new crown, to do this, choose a place where there is a side branch. This is necessary so that the future crown grows upwards. Technique and pruning rules will be similar to those needed when working with a young tree.
A small amount of young buds will be formed in the chosen place, which later will turn into sprouts, they will become the main parts for the rejuvenated tree.
Pruning tips from experienced gardeners
- Before cutting the crown of a tree, you need to learn how to properly vaccinate it, because after artificial formation, it is strictly prohibited to inoculate.
- In the first year of life, the height of the tree should not exceed 100 centimeters. The crown should be like a bowl.
- Walnut pruning should always begin with the removal of diseased, damaged or rubbing branches together.
- In order for the tree to bring the greatest amount of crop, you should use one of the following crown formation schemes:
- Cup-shaped - the easiest and most affordable option for any gardener.
- No-deck - used for pruning young trees.
- Improved longline - requires experience in gardening. In order to give the crown such a shape, it is necessary to clearly represent the expected result and assume how each branch should be trimmed.
Walnut pruning is very laborious andcomplicated procedure that requires good preparation by the gardener. Working with a young tree, it is necessary to control every action, because one wrong step can cause the complete destruction of the plant. On time pruning is the key to a good harvest and the longest possible period of fruiting.
