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Fruit Tree Pruning
in Hampshire
Proper pruning for apple, pear, plum and cherry trees — timed to the season, tailored to the variety, and carried out to encourage better crops and a longer, healthier life.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trusted by homeowners across Winchester & Hampshire
Why Fruit Trees Need Specialist Pruning
Fruit trees are pruned differently from amenity trees. The goal isn’t just to control size — it’s to balance vegetative growth against fruiting, maintain an open crown that lets light and air reach every branch, and remove growth that will never fruit productively.
Pruning at the wrong time, or cutting in the wrong places, can reduce cropping for a season or cause lasting damage. Stone fruits — plums, damsons, cherries — must not be pruned in winter: open wounds in cold wet weather are an entry point for silver leaf disease. These are not abstract risks; they happen on healthy trees when species-specific requirements aren’t followed.
We prune fruit trees to recognised horticultural standards, timed correctly for each species, with clean cuts that heal quickly and don’t leave stubs to die back.
- Winter pruning for apples and pears (dormant season, November–March)
- Summer pruning for trained forms — espaliers, fans, cordons — in July–August
- Stone fruits pruned in summer only to avoid silver leaf disease
- Neglected or overgrown trees restored gradually over 2–3 seasons
- All arisings removed and site left clean
Pruning Timing by Species
| Species | Best Time to Prune |
|---|---|
| Apple | Winter (Nov–Mar) |
| Pear | Winter (Nov–Mar) |
| Plum & Damson | Summer (Jun–Aug) |
| Cherry | Summer (Jun–Aug) |
| Quince | Winter (Nov–Mar) |
| Fig | Late spring (Apr–May) |
| Trained forms (all species) | Summer (Jul–Aug) |
Stone fruits must not be pruned in winter — open wounds in cold, wet conditions create ideal conditions for silver leaf fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum).
What We Can Do for Your Fruit Trees
From a single mature apple tree to a neglected orchard, we assess what each tree needs and work to a clear plan.
Annual Maintenance Pruning
Routine winter or summer prune to maintain shape, remove crossing branches, thin fruiting spurs and encourage consistent cropping year on year.
Renovation of Neglected Trees
Overgrown trees can be restored but must be worked on gradually — removing more than a third of the crown in one season causes stress. We plan the work over two or three winters.
Trained Form Maintenance
Espaliers, fans, cordons and step-overs need summer pruning in July–August to maintain their shape and redirect energy into fruit buds. We work to the established framework.
Crown Reduction
When a mature fruit tree has outgrown its space, we can reduce the overall size while preserving the fruiting structure — a careful reshaping that keeps the tree productive.
Disease & Pest Inspection
We identify common fruit tree problems — canker, silver leaf, brown rot, fireblight — and advise on management. A full tree health survey is available where warranted.
Orchard Management
For properties with multiple fruit trees, we can manage the whole orchard — assessing each tree, planning a multi-year pruning programme, and returning on schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Free Fruit Tree Pruning Quote
Tell us about your trees — species, size, how long since last pruned — and we’ll come out and give you a clear price with no obligation.
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