Peach in April: monthly care

Peach trees fruit on wood produced the previous summer, so pruning aims to encourage a constant supply of young, productive shoots. Unlike apples and pears, peaches are pruned in the growing season to minimise the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, both of which enter through wounds more readily in winter. The main pruning window is in early spring—March or April—just as buds break and you can see which wood is alive. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches first, cutting back to healthy wood. Then thin out crowded growth in the centre of the tree to create an open, goblet-shaped framework that allows light and air to reach all parts. This openness is crucial for ripening fruit and reducing peach leaf curl. In August, after harvest, carry out a second prune to remove any shoots that fruited this year, cutting them back to a younger replacement shoot lower down. This keeps the tree compact and productive. If no replacement shoot is available, cut back to a main branch. Always use clean, sharp secateurs or a pruning saw, and make cuts just above an outward-facing bud at a slight angle. Peaches grown as fans against a wall need more detailed formative pruning to establish the framework, then regular tying-in and pinching of side shoots in summer to maintain shape. Even free-standing bush trees benefit from annual thinning to prevent them becoming congested. Don't be afraid to prune quite hard—peaches respond vigorously and a well-pruned tree will crop far better than a neglected one.