Fruit · pruning calendar
When to prune apple and pear trees
Prune apple and pear trees every year in late winter or early spring, after the coldest weather has passed and before growth begins.
Apple & pear pruning by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Don’t prune now | November: Don’t prune now | December: Don’t prune now |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Don’t prune now | November: Don’t prune now | December: Don’t prune now |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Prune now | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Don’t prune now | November: Don’t prune now | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Wait until the coldest weather has passed.
- Prune now The coldest weather is past and buds haven’t opened. This is the main pruning window.
- Wait Snap off water sprouts if you like. Save structural cuts for late winter.
- Don’t prune now Fall and early-winter cuts are slow to heal and more prone to winter injury.
How to cut: Remove dead, crossing and upright water sprouts first. Keep a cone shape, with the widest branches at the bottom.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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