Pruning is one of the most important agrotechnological measures in intensive apple orchards. Two different types of pruning are used, one in orchards where the tree crown is still forming according to the training system and the second one in orchards which are in full yield. In recent years, mechanical pruning has been increasingly introduced into plantations. Mechanical pruning can be a part of cultivation cut and also part of cut for fruitfulness of trees. This kind of pruning is increasingly used as it makes it much easier for us to cut manually after mechanical pruning. The pruning machine is not self-propelled but must be connected to a tractor. It is necessary to have tractor with front hydraulics to facilitate the machine cut. There are several terms for performing mechanical pruning, which are after harvesting, in the resting phase, in the phase immediately before flowering, immediately after flowering, machine cut in phase 8–12 leaves on annual shoots and mechanical pruning 2 weeks before harvesting. The timing fort he cut is not the same across all orchards. We need to adapt to these dates according to the condition of our orchard. The mechanical pruning is not widespread in Slovenia and is mostly done in winter. There are more dates of mechanical pruning and it should not be used only in winter, but it should be used in several terms to produce higher quality and quantitiy yields, as well as to reduce the cos tof human labor. The experience of mechanical pruning so far shows that Slovenia has great potential for implementing this measure.
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