Content
Pruning persimmons is necessary from the second year after planting. In the first 5–7 years, it will be necessary to correctly form the crown in the form of a tall tree or multi-tiered shrub. Then, as necessary, the old branches are shortened, leaving at least 2-3 buds on them, from which young cuttings will grow. The procedure is scheduled for early spring or late autumn.
Why prune persimmons?
This tree needs regular pruning (annually in spring or fall). Pruning is carried out to remove weak, diseased branches and eliminate old shoots.
The procedure allows you to solve several problems:
- stimulating the growth of young layers;
- uniform development of the crown and root system;
- maintaining productivity;
- crown formation (including thinning);
- ensuring stability - equal load on different branches.
Types of persimmon pruning
The main types of pruning are formative (young trees in the first 3–5 years of life) and rejuvenating (removal of old branches). Along with them, they give a sanitary haircut. The procedure is necessary to remove weakened, diseased and frostbitten shoots. This event is held in early spring.
Rejuvenating
Rejuvenating persimmon pruning is carried out for mature trees every 2–3 years. You need to start it only at a time when the young shoots have stopped growing. The purpose of pruning is to remove an old branch that bears little fruit, is damaged, weakened, or broken. Such a shoot is not completely removed - you need to leave a few buds, from which new shoots will appear. It is better to trim only one branch during the procedure so as not to weaken the persimmon.
Moreover, the process takes place in 2 stages (it is better to do it in the spring).
- First, remove the old branch from the south side, while simultaneously shortening the young shoots by a third of their length.
- At the second stage, after 2–3 years, repeated pruning is also carried out on the south side.
- A year later, the same procedure is performed on the north side.
Thanks to this, the crown is renewed gradually, which ensures the growth of new shoots. Moreover, the lower tier of persimmon will receive more nutrients, which means the yield will increase.
Formative
They begin to form a tree from the second year after planting (it is better to plan it in the spring, but it can also be done in the fall):
- In the first year, the tallest shoots are shortened to 80 cm, and the side ones are left.
- In the second year, all skeletal branches are shortened to 40 cm.
- Starting from the third year, gardeners regularly trim the persimmon crown, thinning it and removing shoots growing inward. At the same time, the young skeletal branches are no longer touched - they are the ones who will ensure the stability of the tree.
The diagram of formative pruning of persimmons from 2 to 10 years of life will help to carry out the procedure correctly
When growing a seedling, you must immediately determine its shape - a tall bush or tree. The latter option is more resistant to strong winds.But because shrubs are easier to harvest, many gardeners choose this type of pruning.
When is the best time to prune persimmons?
For cutting persimmons, you can choose either early spring or late autumn. Since in Russia the tree is grown only in the southern regions, the timing of the procedure will be as follows:
- Spring – first half of March (before the buds begin to swell).
- Autumn – end of October (about a month before the first frost).
It’s definitely not worth pruning persimmons at any other time. But in extreme cases, in the summer you can remove foliage and shoots affected by diseases or broken by strong winds.
What tools are needed for pruning?
To remove branches, use ordinary garden tools:
- Secateurs are the most convenient option. It is best to choose a tool with single-sided cutting. In this case, the blade should be very sharp, which facilitates the work and minimizes injuries to the branches.
- A lopper is a convenient tool for shaping haircuts and crown thinning. They are also used to rejuvenate old shrubs.
- Garden knife - necessary for removing thin shoots. It is also used to straighten an irregular cut left by pruning shears.
The haircut is done with gloves, observing safety precautions.
You can trim the shoots with pruning shears, loppers or garden shears
How to prune persimmons in the fall
In the fall, when cutting, you need to:
- thin out the crown;
- remove all damaged and diseased branches.
In fact, autumn haircut is optional. If the event is held in the spring, then the next stage can also be planned for March.
Persimmon pruning is usually planned for late autumn.
How to prune persimmons in spring
After winter, tree trimming is carried out as follows:
- The next year after planting, the main shoot is shortened so that its height is no more than 80 cm. Thanks to this, the root system and the branches themselves will form evenly, which will ensure the stability of the tree.
- Next year, 3-4 main (skeletal) branches are planned at approximately the same distance from each other.
- Leave 5 buds on thin shoots. On skeletal ones - two.
Errors and their consequences
Pruning persimmons is a simple procedure. However, it requires regularity and consistency: it is carried out every year, outlining the shape of the tree in advance, as well as selecting several skeletal branches for uniform loading. To achieve good yields, it is necessary to avoid typical mistakes that novice gardeners make:
- Formative pruning is carried out from the first year (after planting). You should not think that a tree can grow “just like that.” Persimmon bears heavy fruits (120–150 g), and if you do not think through a symmetrical crown, the branches will begin to break under the weight of the fruit.
- When forming, select those branches that grow at a slight angle to the main trunk. If the angle is too sharp, after a few years the branch will probably break off under the weight of the fruit.
- Even old shoots are not completely removed. At least two growth buds are left on them, otherwise young branches will not appear from them. Then it will not be possible to rejuvenate the tree.
- After pruning the persimmon, the wounds must be treated with garden varnish and sprinkled with charcoal or activated charcoal powder. You can also use special preparations, for example, copper sulfate, “Garden pitch” and others. If this is not done, an infection may enter through the cut, and the injured area will suffer from frost. If persimmon pruning is done in the summer, processing is not necessary.
- When carrying out the procedure, it is important to remember that the fruits grow on the shoots of the current year. Moreover, if the wave of fruiting has a clear period, then the shortening is strong (including annual growth).
- After pruning the persimmon, the branches and leaves should be taken away and burned, as pests can overwinter in them. The tree is treated with a fungicide (for example, a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture), the tree trunk is sprinkled with ash, and watered well. It is also recommended to lay mulch (sawdust, peat, straw). Even in the southern regions you will need a small shelter for the winter.
Conclusion
Pruning persimmons is an important component of care, on which productivity directly depends. If timely pruning is not carried out, the crown thickens, the shoots grow unevenly, which is why the shoots can break under the weight of the fruit. Therefore, the formation of a tree must be started in the first years of life.
