Principles of Hawthorn Pruning When young hawthorn trees are pruned, the principles are light pruning and more retention, and short pruning of upright branches and competitive branches. In the second year, we should remove the strong, stay weak or slow down the growth, extend the central trunk, cut short branches, and the direction of buds at the cut mouth is opposite to that of the previous year. This can correct the deviation of small trees. The extension branches of the main branches and side branches should be cut short to leave the outer buds open.
In the early stage of hawthorn fruit bearing, the extension branches of backbone branches at all levels can be shortened, so as to maintain the subordinate relationship and balance the tree potential. Prune crowded branches, too dense branches, or shrink into large fruit branches and prune too dense branches.
During the full fruit period of hawthorn, attention should be paid to ventilation and good light transmission conditions. At this time, it is necessary to cut short the new branches around the crown, strengthen the growth of vegetative branches, and retract and trim the rejuvenated fruit branches. In addition, overlapping branches, over-dense branches, cross branches and pest branches should be cut off. The top of the big branch is drooping, but it can be slightly retracted. Choose side branches or oblique branches. When pruning, the fruiting branches of hawthorn should be weakened, kept strong, thinned and kept strong to adjust the branch density. The strong branches in the short-cut group are used as backup branches to prevent the phenomenon of big and small years. If the long branches are used reasonably, they can be cultivated into fruiting branches by cutting them short and coring them in summer.
Hawthorn trees older than 10 should be mainly drained, and branches of diseases and pests, dead branches and over-dense branches should be cut off to keep the crown symmetrical and the branch spacing appropriate, which is conducive to ventilation and light transmission.