Columnar Fruit Trees (Säulenobst) Pruning and Care:

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Overview:

Columnar fruit trees are a popular choice for gardeners with limited space. These slim, upright trees grow well in small gardens or large containers on balconies or terraces. Despite their compact size, they can produce high yields. However, pruning and care for columnar fruit trees differ from those of larger fruit trees.

How to Prune Columnar Fruit Trees:

  1. Column Apples:
    • No Regular Pruning Needed: Column apples (e.g., ‘McIntosh’) naturally grow in a narrow, columnar shape. These trees generally don’t need regular pruning except to remove any long lateral branches.
    • Remove Side Branches: If your column apple develops a longer side branch, it should be cut back to the trunk at the « Astring » point (where the branch connects to the main stem). Avoid leaving stubs, as this can lead to new side shoots.
  2. Other Column Fruit Trees (Cherries, Pears, Plums):
    • Cut Back Longer Branches: Unlike apples, other column fruit trees such as cherries, pears, and plums can develop more side branches. These should be pruned back to about 10 to 15 cm in length. Make sure to cut each branch just behind a bud that faces downward.
    • Prune in June: The best time to prune columnar trees is in late June when new growth has slowed down but is still active enough to encourage the tree to focus on forming fruiting buds.

Additional Tips for Columnar Fruit Trees:

  1. Planting and Container Requirements:
    • Large Containers: When growing columnar fruit trees in pots, ensure the container is large enough (at least 20 liters) to support healthy root growth. Small pots can lead to water stress and fruit drop, especially during hot weather.
    • Soil Mix: Use high-quality, stable potting soil enriched with clay or clay granules for better moisture retention, as fruit trees prefer loamy, slightly heavier soil.
  2. Regular Fertilizing:
    • Spring Fertilization: Use organic or mineral long-term fertilizers in spring to provide steady nutrients.
    • Additional Feeding: Every two to three weeks, apply a liquid fruit and vegetable fertilizer to promote healthy growth and fruiting.
  3. Supporting Even Yields:
    • Managing Alternating Yields (Alternanz): Column apples are prone to « alternating » yields, where they produce a heavy crop one year and very few the next. To prevent this, thin out the fruit early—by June, remove excess fruits to ensure that only around 30 apples remain to fully mature.
    • Pruning Fruit Trees Regularly: Although thinning is not always necessary for cherries or plums, for pears and peaches, fruit thinning is important to prevent the tree from being overburdened.
  4. Repotting:
    • Repotting Every 5 Years: Columnar fruit trees in pots should be repotted into larger containers every 5 years. This ensures they have sufficient space for root development.

By following these simple steps, columnar fruit trees can be well-maintained, leading to productive and space-efficient growing on terraces, small gardens, or even urban balconies.

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