Effects of Time of Pruning on Growth and Longevity of Peach Trees1

Pruning dates as treatments were imposed for a 4 or 5-year period on peach trees [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] growing on old and new peach land. The trees were pruned during the middle of each month with an unpruned check in 1 test only. Trees growing on old peach land and pruned in fall or early winter generally had greater mortality than non-pruned or trees pruned in spring. Time of pruning, however, had little or no effect on longevity when trees were grown on new peach land. Also time of pruning had no consistent effect on tree growth.