Avoid pruning of apple trees in the month of October: Expert

Srinagar, Oct 20: Horticulture experts Thursday advised the apple orchardists to avoid pruning in the month of October.
Worried over the possible untimely snowfall, apple growers at many places have started early pruning of apple trees with experts terming it unscientific.
Waseem Ahmad, an apple grower from Pulwama said several growers including him have done the pruning of trees due to fear of untimely snowfall and weather disturbances.
“Our apple trees have already suffered huge damages in the past two years due to untimely snowfall and if the trees suffer new damage then the trees would not give fruits,” he said.
Javid Ahmad, an apple grower from a peripheral area of Baramulla said that pruning of trees is normally carried out after November but the apprehension of damages forced them to go for early pruning in order to avoid any risk.
Horticulture experts said that this is not the right time to go for pruning of apple trees adding that pruning should be done once the leaves start turning yellow.
Dr Syed Samiullah, a senior horticulture expert said that if growers prune trees when the leaves are green they are damaging the trees, tree health and trees lose nutrients.
He said in case there is fear of snowfall then only small and weak trees should be pruned while wood logs (a traditional method of saving trees) should be used to give support to branches of apple trees.
He also said that in Kashmir pruning should be started after 15 November when leaves turn yellow.
“Pruning of apple trees this time means exposing the tree to diseases. Canker disease is one such disease that destroys the trees within three to four years and main reason is early pruning,” he said.
Dr Samiullah, said when the trees loose nutrients due to early pruning and trees do not give the expected flowering and fruits.