Summer pruning is a horticultural practice that enables better management of trees. It is
important in combination with winter pruning and depends on the age of the tree, the
peach cultivar, the rootstock, and the climate. There are different intensities of summer
pruning, which affect both the quantity and quality of the fruit. During summer pruning,
old wood, overly vigorous shoots, and thinning of fruit buds are removed to increase
light penetration in the canopy, thus enhancing the quality and color intensity of the
fruit. Summer pruning can be done early in the summer or late in the summer just before
harvest. Early summer pruning can affect the quality and quantity of the harvest in the
same year, while late summer pruning makes harvesting easier and usually affects the
quality and quantity of the harvest the following year, although it impacts the color
intensity of the peaches in the same year. Improper summer pruning can cause damage
to both trees and fruit, and excessive pruning can cause sunburn on the peaches. Quality
summer pruning increases both the quantity and quality of the yield and promotes the
growth of main shoots, while reducing the need for water and irrigation during dry
summer months.
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