Summer pruning

Wisteria sinensis below) needs to be pruned in two stages. In summer, when the main growing season is over, the new shoots are pruned back by about half. In winter these shoots are then further shortened to two buds. This may seem elaborate, but will give much joy when the heavily scented trusses of delicate lilac flowers appear the following spring. 

Like all fruit trees, apples need to be pruned annually for best results. Once established, all tree forms benefit from winter pruning. Trained forms—cordons, espaliers, and fans—need extra pruning in summer to keep their shape. Pruning aims to achieve a number of objectives ... 

From the fourth year onward, pears are pruned as for apples (see pp.297-298) all benefit from routine pruning in winter, and wall-trained trees need additional pruning in summer. Spur-pruning will enhance cropping. 

Summer raspberries In this useful double support system, with two rows of posts and wires (seen end-on here), the fruiting canes of summer raspberries are tied in to the wires, while new canes grow up freely in the space between, to be thinned and tied in when the fruited canes are pruned out. 

Begin summer pruning in the second year. First identify the leading shoot of each branch (see above)] do not prune this. 

The Problem In an orchard, it requires 3 workers for every 16 trees to keep them pruned and cared for during the summer. How many trees could be tended by 40 workers ... 

Many foods contain preservatives that prolong the shelf life and/or combat infestations by insects and microorganisms. Sulfur dioxide (S02) is probably one of the oldest preservatives. For centuries, people found that if the summer harvest of fruits is to be preserved and stored for the winter months, a drying process can accomplish the task. Raisins, dates, dried apricots, and prunes are still sun-dried in many countries. The drying process increases the sugar concentration in such dried fruits, and bacteria and most other microorganisms cannot use the dried fruit as a carbohydrate source because of the hypertonic (hyperosmotic) conditions. 

Fig. 4.15. Regrowth shoots as a result of summer pruning carried out too early.

Infections can also occur in spring and summer via wounds caused by pruning, hail, frost, etc., but cannot occur unless there is some form of wound. 

Consistently rejuvenate the bushes any summer pruning should not be carried out until after the moths take wing, from August onwards. 

Most birches grow best in cool climates and almost invariably perform better in the northern portions of their range. Choose a site with light shade and moist but well-drained, acidic soil. Transplant in spring as balled-and-burlapped specimens. Don t prune in winter or early spring, when trees can bleed" sap late summer is a better time. 

Lindens are deciduous shade trees, principally valued for their foliage. Their summer flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees. Lindens are widely used as street trees and, because they adapt well to pruning, for tall hedges. 

Trees and shrubs that are fertilized too late in summer, or overfertilized with nitrogen at any time, do not harden off with the approach of cold weather in autumn. Pruning or ovcrwatcring too late in the summer can also cause a late flush of succulent growth. In the winter, insufficiently hardened plants may experience cold damage and subsequent disease problems, such as Cytospora canker, also known as Valsa canker, of peach trees. 

In mid-winter prune as usual and apply more mulch to protect the plants from spring heaving. In the spring gradually remove the mulch as temperatures increase, then apply a fresh summer mulch. 

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