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Poorly peach tree

n67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAPn67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAP Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
Hi we planted a peach tree June Delight or something about 7 years ago in our sunny work garden. It does get windy down there. But otherwise is a sun trap. 
First few years were good. Peaches developing and getting bigger each year.  But it’s now just 3 long  main leafless and branchless trunks ~2.5m and a sprig of leaves at the end. I fear pruning the main branches back to sensible length may kill the tree as there’d be no new growth to start from. But seems no option as normal pruning doesn’t apply as we’d be left with the long naked trunks still. Or would a hard prune allow us to start again? And when do we do it?  Many thanks. Jim. 
 

Posts

  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    It would be helpful if you could include some photos.

    Inspect the trunk very carefully.

    Most commercial fruit trees come with a plastic ID tag tied to the trunk. Did you remember to take it off when you first planted it?

  • n67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAPn67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAP Posts: 3
    Thanks for looking. Sorry no id but certainly remember it was advertised as early ripening and therefor good for the north. On closer inspection it’s got two branches, left one is dead and right one splits to the two bushy heads. But afraid if we cut that back then it will just die. 
  • diggersjodiggersjo Posts: 172
    Have a look at the RHS information here. In particular the aspect of the tree should really be on a south facing wall. My limited, long ago, experience was that it needed some cover for the roots, but it certainly shouldn't be competing with all that growth around it.
    Yorkshire, ex Italy and North East coast. Growing too old for it!
  • n67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAPn67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAP Posts: 3
    thanks. By north - Leeds, is very south facing wall. thanks for the link, but All the pruning advice I find is about thinning out and not lopping off whole branches. I guess we have little to lose as it’s not productive as it is and the wrong shape. Just wondering if anyone here had every done a heavy prune (no leaves left) to a peach and they survived. 
  • diggersjodiggersjo Posts: 172
    No, but I've seen this done by growers abroad on entire orchards of peaches. Trouble is I don't recall when during the year or how old the trees were (quite old).
    Yorkshire, ex Italy and North East coast. Growing too old for it!
  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    edited September 2023
    n67vpq6qf8Eid9ZkAP said:
    Thanks for looking. Sorry no id but certainly remember it was advertised as early ripening and therefor good for the north. On closer inspection it’s got two branches, left one is dead and right one splits to the two bushy heads. But afraid if we cut that back then it will just die. 

    Sorry, I wasn't being clear enough.

    Is the plastic ID tag strangling the tree?

    Most people don't bother taking them off and forget about it. Some times the tag slips down and strangles the tree at soil level or just below it.

    In any case, currently, I think the tree is a bit too gangly. Some structural work will be needed - either by building a support framework (growing it fan style) or by corrective work on the tree to make it more stocky if it is to be free standing. Both options will require some drastic pruning.

    I would guesstimate it to be a three year project.

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