When is the best time to prune almond trees?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Timing is essential in the process of pruning almond trees to encourage growth, flowering, and fruiting. The best time to prune is during the late winter dormancy period after the leaves have fallen, and before the buds start to swell. I have trimmed branches in late February after the winter storms had broken them, which allowed the cuts to heal before the sap began flowing in the spring.
Structural Pruning Goals
- Create 3-5 main scaffolds spaced 8-12 inches apart.
- Remove inward-growing branches to improve light penetration.
- Cut at 45-degree angles above outward-facing buds to direct growth.
Timing & Aftercare
- Avoid fall pruning, fresh cuts invite frost damage and cankers.
- Sanitize tools with 70% alcohol between trees to prevent disease spread.
- Apply pruning sealant only to cuts larger than 2 inches in diameter.
Caring for tools separates professionals from amateurs. Heavy-duty bypass pruners should be used for small-diameter cuts (under 1 inch) and loppers for larger cuts. I generally sharpen the blades weekly during the pruning season, as dull tools can crush the bark that opens the plant to invasion by insect pests. After each tree, I always wipe the blades of my tools down with rubbing alcohol to eliminate the possibility of bacterial blight.
Overpruning
- Removing >25% of canopy stresses trees, reducing yields.
- Thin gradually over 2-3 seasons for major reshaping.
- Never top trees, it triggers weak water sprouts.
Wrong Timing
- Summer pruning exposes bark to sunscald in hot climates.
- Late spring cuts bleed sap, attracting navel orangeworms.
- Prune post-harvest only to remove diseased wood immediately.
Proper pruning has a long-term pay-off. A Fresno area orchard I consult with has increased nut yield by 30% by doing winter pruning last year. The trees, which are 40 years old, are still producing at a high level. This shows that proper cutting during a dormant period of the tree's life can increase rendement and extend production beyond the commonly stated 25-year life span of an orchard.
Read the full article: How to Grow Almonds: Simplified Guide for Bountiful Harvests
