Should You Trim Fruit Trees in Fall—or Wait Until Spring? Experts Weigh In

Autumn is when most fruit trees prepare for dormancy and redirect energy down to their roots. Trimming or pruning them during this time stimulates new shoots, which might not have time to harden off before the first frost—this puts the entire tree at risk of damage.

“Fall pruning also makes fruit trees susceptible to pests, infections, frost damage, and branch dieback,” says Nastya Vasylchyshyna, resident botany expert at Plantum.

So when should you prune your fruit trees? Here, we had gardening experts demystify the process—follow their guidance to keep your trees healthy.

Best Time to Trim

The optimal time to prune a fruit tree is in late winter or early spring when severe frosts have passed but the plants are still dormant. “It’s important to do this before budding and leafing begin,” Vasylchyshyna says. “The exact time depends on the region, but it’s generally from February until early or mid-March.” 

Sap flow is slow during dormancy, reducing any damage caused by pruning. “Cold weather also lowers pathogen activity, decreasing the chances of infection,” she adds. “Additionally, the absence of foliage allows you to examine branches thoroughly and check their condition."

Although the first goal of pruning is to remove deadwood and competing growth, practicality is also important. “Next, we reduce the height of last year's growth to make sure the next fruit crop will be within reach,” says Jase Jacobson, arborist and founder of Clean Cut Tree Service. “Finally, reduce the weight on the longest horizontal tips, which are at risk of breaking when loaded with fruit.”

Exceptions to the Rule

Sanitary pruning is okay to do during the fall months; Vasylchyshyna recommends only removing dry, damaged, or dead branches. "They can become a shelter for pests hiding in bark cracks during winter,” she says. “However, avoid cutting healthy shoots.”

Some stone fruit trees—such as cherries, plums, and mature apple and pear trees—can also be exceptions, as pruning can thin out the crown and improve sunlight access to fruiting branches. “This is also a good preventative measure against silver leaf disease, a severe condition common in these plants,” Vasylchyshyna adds. 

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Best Practices

Make sure you know what you're doing before you reach for the pruning shears. Below, a few helpful tips and tricks from the experts.

• Be mindful of temperature: For winter pruning, choose a dry day with temperatures between 23 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, says Vasylchyshyna. Avoid pruning before or during severe frosts or in humid, rainy, or snowy weather.
• Remove suckers: Cut away weak lateral shoots that drain resources from main branches and hinder air circulation inside the crown.
• Don't overprune: If you cut too much, you might affect fruit production, says Levi Williams, an arborist with Tree Scouts Tree Service. Remove only 20 to 30 percent of the branches at one time. 
• Use clean tools: Use sharp, disinfected tools to make clean, even cuts and prevent infection.
• Cut the obvious first: Remove damaged, sick, inward, upward, or downward-growing intersecting branches—or those that make the crown too dense, says Vasylchyshyna. Form strong, healthy scaffold branches that you can easily access and that will bear most of the fruit. Train a symmetrical crown to improve tree stability.
• Make small cuts: Don't be afraid to make a lot of small cuts, Jacobson says. “But do your best to make sure that each cut is clean and adjacent to a healthy lateral branch.”