Thread: Peach Trees
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Old 01-04-2007, 04:39 PM posted to rec.gardens
symplastless symplastless is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Mar 2007
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Default Peach Trees

No, peaches require fine pruning.
The pictures here show the internal response to proper pruning.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...ach/index.html

The more color-altered wood (dead symplast) the less place for the tree to
store energy such as starch which is only stored in living parenchyma cells.
This would reduce the trees capacity for defense. This is why they have
short life disease of peaches. The only way you will understand this is by
dissecting trees and seeing for yourself.

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.





"David E. Ross" wrote in message
.. .
symplastless wrote:
A little word about peach trees. They do not tolerate proper pruning
well
let alone improper pruning.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...ach/index.html

For much more on pruning:
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/tree_pruning



I'm not sure what you mean by "They do not tolerate proper pruning
well". All stone fruits respond well to pruning. Peaches require heavy
pruning.

The convention is to remove growth equal to 2/3 of what grew during the
previous spring and summer. Ideally, you remove old growth and keep new
growth. However, new growth should be headed, at least removing the
final inch of each new branch or twig; this keeps the branch from
growing any longer and promotes new branch formation.

Failure to prune a peach thoroughly before flowering will result in more
fruit this year but a reduced crop next year. It also increases the
risk of branches breaking when they set too much fruit unless you thin
the immature fruit more aggressively than if the tree were pruned.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/