Pruning a dwarf peach tree
Marcy Asked
Hello and thank you for your time. We need to prune our dwarf peach in the most way. It has completely overgrown the area intended. We really don’t want to transplant. Is there any instruction you could offer on how to keep it blooming and still be a size that fits the area? Thanks!
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi Marcy, Thanks for sending the reference photo. Dwarf peach trees will mature to a height and width of 8-10 feet. It appears like yours is around that size although the angle of the picture may be deceiving. It looks like the tree has been properly pruned into a wide-angled vase shape with 4 scaffold branches. This structure is ideal for air circulation, supporting and harvesting mature fruit. You will want to remove the lower branches that are growing into the boxwood and those growing inward or straight up in the center of the tree. Head back the thin branches to an outward facing bud. Peach trees can be pruned each year to maintain size and shape. They should also be pruned to remove damaged or diseased branches. This should be done during the late winter or early spring. Use a sharp pair of loppers for the thick branches and bypass pruners for the thinner ones. The Cooperative Extension Service is a reliable resource. They provide research-based publications for home gardeners in Kentucky. Visit the following link for detailed information on growing and pruning peach trees in Kentucky.
Angie Oakley
Kentucky Living-Ask the Gardener
