Any reason you should not do major pruning in the summer?

10 years ago

I started doing some summer pruning today. ItÃ¢ÂÂs well over 100 degrees and I kind of got into autopilot and got a little carried away with an apricot tree. It was in a Vase Shape without an opening which makes it hard to pick and care for. So in the middle of pruning it I decided to take out two of the main scaffolds to open it up on one side to about six foot tall. There are other scaffold branches above the ones I took out. I plan on using them to shape the top like a topiary tree above that point. This will allow me to step into the Open Vase to pick and care for this small tree (8'X8'X8') in the shade. The treeÃ¢ÂÂs diameter is a little over 3" and I just cut two scaffold branches that where roughly 1.5" at their point of attachment. This along with itÃ¢ÂÂs normal summer pruning is going to be quite a haircut.

Is this too much for a little tree in the middle of a hot summer or do I have nothing to worry about?

Comments (8)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
10 years ago
I'd be concerned that the exposed limbs might sunburn. At the least I'd paint them white with interior latex diluted 50% with water. You might also consider a shade cloth if that's possible. Something on the order of 50% shade.
rayrose
10 years ago
If you'll do a search for "Can we review summer pruning, Jellyman?", you'll find an excellent post by Don Yellman on summer pruning.
Related Professionals
North New Hyde Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Norwood Landscape Contractors · Allentown Landscape Contractors · Centereach Landscape Contractors · East Hanover Landscape Contractors · Fairview Landscape Contractors · Goodlettsville Landscape Contractors · Lakewood Landscape Contractors · Lemont Landscape Contractors · Lynchburg Landscape Contractors · Metairie Landscape Contractors · Seymour Landscape Contractors · Smyrna Landscape Contractors · Vineyard Landscape Contractors · Clearfield Landscape Contractors
thisisme
Original Author
10 years ago
Fruitnut would you paint over the cuts too?

rayrose I did a search using what you have in quotes and could not find it.
rayrose
10 years ago
The thread is from August 14,2002. I don't know how long Garden Web keeps threads in their archives, but I'd keep on trying using different approaches. You might try, "Summer Pruning, for instance.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
10 years ago
Sure paint anything that will get more sun than it's accustom to. It probably won't help the cut surface but can't hurt.

In your climate the heat could easily kill the bark that's newly exposed. So anything you can do to lower the temperature will help.
thisisme
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks guys.
alan haigh
10 years ago
I have no experience in your climate, but I believe the issue of sun scald has to do with a combination of a serious reduction in the canopy reducing sap flow through the xylem and more sun exposure increasing the problem with heat- sometimes burning the life out of the most exposed part of the bark.

Dormant pruning may pose more risk of causing this kind of injury than summer pruning if my theory about the cooling affect of transpiration is correct. By summer the leaves are well developed and less canopy is required to keep a good sap flow. Trees pruned heavily in winter can't pull very much sap through developing buds and spur leaves when the first hot days of the year may occur.

Years of experience at renovating old apple trees supports my theory. I never seem to get any scald from summer pruning.
MrClint
10 years ago
I've never painted a tree so I can't say for sure if it's really needed after Summer pruning or not. It just isn't something I do. It does seem to be sound general advice that gets repeated everywhere. For me painting tree trunks would be just one more thing to do. And if I can find more things not to do, the happier I will be. Pruning, watering, mulching, and harvesting keeps me busy enough.