[sunshineband]

I bought a Golden Glow apricot tree this morning. It is about six feet tall and has several side branches. NO sign of fruit buds but not too worried about that right now.

Question is, do thye get pruned after the leaves come out? I have looked online and found all sorts of conflicting advice.

Help me please 

[Yorkie]

My rhs book says stone fruits such as apricots should be pruned in summer to avoid the risk of disease.

[Trillium]

Here's a good article from McGill Univ. about various fruit trees.

http://eap.mcgill.ca/MagRack/COG/COG_H_93_03.htm

Apricots are much like peaches in their pruning needs, and I keep the pruning to a minimum unless something drastic happens like another tree falling onto one of my peach trees and snapping a large branch.  Had no choice but to take it out, but otherwise it's not good to prune into growing branches of these particular ones. Better to do a pre-emergent pruning of dead branches, crossing branches, diseased ones, etc. and keep it to a minimum.

[sunshineband]

Thank you guys -- the tree seems to have one lead shoot and several radial branches coming out.

The plan now is to wait until it has leaves on it (say end of May) and then prune back the central trunk a bit to creat a sort of vase shape overall.

Do you think that sounds sensible? Is that what is meant by a modified central leader?

[blackbob]

Thank you guys -- the tree seems to have one lead shoot and several radial branches coming out.

The plan now is to wait until it has leaves on it (say end of May) and then prune back the central trunk a bit to creat a sort of vase shape overall.

Do you think that sounds sensible? Is that what is meant by a modified central leader?

sounds fine,you are aiming for a goblet type shape.
could only dream of growing such exoitics up here lol.

[sunshineband]

It seems that Golden Glow is super hardy -- at least it was 'discovered' in the Worcester area some years ago.... that makes t hardy to me down 'ere 

[Paul Plots]

My rhs book says stone fruits such as apricots should be pruned in summer to avoid the risk of disease.

That's exactly what I have heard... My parents have a huge apricot that I must tackle this summer - presently plastered in flower - a lovely sight!

Correction: It's a  nectarine not an apricot!! 

[sunshineband]

My rhs book says stone fruits such as apricots should be pruned in summer to avoid the risk of disease.

That's exactly what I have heard... My parents have a huge apricot that I must tackle this summer - presently plastered in flower - a lovely sight!

Correction: It's a  nectarine not an apricot!! 

 

Never mind you are allowed some small confusion today   

[blackbob]

My rhs book says stone fruits such as apricots should be pruned in summer to avoid the risk of disease.

That's exactly what I have heard... My parents have a huge apricot that I must tackle this summer - presently plastered in flower - a lovely sight!

Correction: It's a  nectarine not an apricot!! 

as a rule most stone fruit should be pruned (if needed) when the sap is up, summer.
apples and the rest when it's down (winter)

[blackbob]

My rhs book says stone fruits such as apricots should be pruned in summer to avoid the risk of disease.

That's exactly what I have heard... My parents have a huge apricot that I must tackle this summer - presently plastered in flower - a lovely sight!

Correction: It's a  nectarine not an apricot!! 

as long as you get some fruit it doesn't matter what they are lol.

[Paul Plots]

It gives a fair crop every once in a while