When should I prune my fruit trees?

Question: 

When should I prune my fruit trees?

Answer: 

Late February to early April is the best time to prune fruit trees in Iowa.  Summer pruning of fruit trees is generally not recommended.  However, water sprouts (rapidly growing shoots that often develop just below a pruning cut) can be removed in June or July. 

Category: 

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on . The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.