Peach/apricot pruning - Ask Extension
I have 2 new peach and 1 apricot tree. They’re all from a local nursery. They stand about 6’ tall and all still have their central leaders. I know...
Knowledgebase
Peach/apricot pruning #936495
Asked June 23, 2026, 10:04 AM EDT
I have 2 new peach and 1 apricot tree. They’re all from a local nursery. They stand about 6’ tall and all still have their central leaders. I know that they should be pruned to have an open center. Next spring should I take them all the way down to 4-6 lateral branches? It feels like that’s too much to take off at once. Thank you for your advice.
Mesa County Colorado
Expert Response
Pruning fruit trees is very different than pruning ornamental trees and often we're removing a lot of material. Utah State University Extension has some great information on peach care, including pruning: How to Grow Peaches in Your Garden (USU)
Apricots will be similar, in terms of training, though, unlike peaches, apricots fruit on spurs up to 5 years old, so you don't want to remove too much fruiting wood. You can find additional information here: How to Grow Apricots in Your Home Garden (USU)
