Key Takeaways

• Late winter to early spring is the best time for fruit tree pruning in Colorado to minimize disease and promote healing.
• Techniques vary by species—pruning apple trees preserves old fruiting wood, while pruning peach trees encourages new growth.
• Light, annual fruit tree trimming improves airflow, reduces pest risk, and supports better fruit development across all varieties.

Proper fruit tree pruning is key to producing healthy trees and a bountiful harvest, especially in Colorado’s dry climate. But knowing when to prune fruit trees and how to prune them correctly makes all the difference in promoting strong structure, airflow, and fruit development.

When Is the Best Time to Prune Trees?

In Colorado, late winter to early spring is ideal for most fruit tree trimming, before the buds begin to swell. Pruning during dormancy helps reduce the spread of disease and gives trees time to heal before the growing season. For example, timing when to prune apple trees or peach trees typically falls between February and early April, depending on elevation and weather.

How to Prune Different Fruit Trees

Different trees require different techniques. Pruning apple and pear trees focuses on preserving fruiting spurs on older wood. In contrast, pruning peach trees encourages new growth, since peaches fruit on one-year-old branches.

The pruning of cherry, plum, and fig trees should also be timed and shaped carefully to improve canopy airflow and reduce pest pressure. Light annual pruning is best — avoid removing more than 25% of the canopy in a single season.

Expert Fruit Tree Pruning Near You

If you’re searching for fruit tree pruning services in Colorado, Affordable Tree & Shrub Experts has you covered. Our certified arborists specialize in shaping, thinning, and rejuvenating fruit trees for maximum health and productivity.

No matter the species, we provide expert tree and shrub trimming tailored to Colorado conditions. Let us help your trees thrive with precise, timely pruning.