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Orchard restoration and fruit tree pruning

An old, overgrown orchard can usually be saved. Renovation pruning spread over two or three winters brings back light, health and fruit without shocking the trees.

Old fruit trees standing in long grass behind a wooden field gate in evening sun
Photo: Cristofer Sewell on Unsplash

Firms that do orchard restoration, by town

Services are as each firm describes them on its own website. 24/7 firms are listed first; the order isn't a ranking.

Worcestershire's orchards

Orchards are part of Worcestershire's identity: the black pear is the county's emblem and appears on its flag, the Vale of Evesham was built on fruit growing, and Pershore gave its name to the Pershore Yellow Egg plum. The county's traditional orchard action plan cites research suggesting Worcestershire still holds about 8% of England's orchards, but many have been lost or left neglected as fruit growing became less profitable.

Traditional orchards, with widely spaced, tall standard trees in grassland, are a priority habitat in England. Old fruit trees with rot holes and deadwood support rare species such as the noble chafer beetle, so restoration aims to keep trees alive and productive rather than make them neat.

How renovation pruning works

  1. First winter: remove dead, diseased and broken wood, and any branches crossing or rubbing. Cut out canker and heavy mistletoe.
  2. Second winter: open up the centre of the tree to let in light and air, reducing over-long branches back to well-placed side branches.
  3. Third winter: lower the height if needed and balance the crown, then move on to light annual pruning.

Spreading the work matters. Taking too much off at once makes apple and pear trees throw up a mass of vigorous upright shoots (water shoots) and can stress an old tree badly. A good fruit tree pruner removes only part of the canopy each year.

Timing: apples and pears versus plums and cherries

Apples and pears are pruned in winter while dormant, roughly November to early March. Plums, damsons, gages and cherries are different: prune them in spring or mid-summer when the tree is in growth, because winter cuts let in silver leaf disease and bacterial canker.

Is consent needed?

Pruning fruit trees in line with good horticultural practice doesn't need consent, even where a Tree Preservation Order applies. Felling old orchard trees, or work that goes beyond normal fruit tree pruning, usually still needs consent if the trees are protected or in a conservation area (commercial fruit growing has its own exemption). See our TPO guide.

Getting help

Look for a firm that mentions fruit tree or orchard pruning specifically. Formative and renovation pruning of fruit trees is a different skill from crown work on large garden trees. For larger traditional orchards, local orchard groups and the People's Trust for Endangered Species orchard network can point you to advice and, sometimes, funding.

Questions

Can a very old, neglected apple tree be saved?

Often, yes. Unless the trunk is badly decayed or the tree is unstable, renovation pruning over two or three winters can bring it back into health and fruiting. A fruit tree pruner can assess it first.

When should I prune my plum tree?

In spring or summer, while the tree is growing, not in winter. Winter cuts on plums, cherries and other stone fruit let in silver leaf disease and bacterial canker.

How much can I cut off an overgrown fruit tree in one go?

Only part of the canopy each year. Heavy pruning in one winter makes apples and pears produce masses of upright water shoots, so renovation is usually spread over two or three years.

Should dead wood be removed from old orchard trees?

Dead branches that could fall on people or spread disease should go, but some standing deadwood and rot holes on older trees are valuable wildlife habitat. Discuss with your tree surgeon what to leave.

Do I need permission to prune protected fruit trees?

Pruning any tree grown for fruit, in line with good horticultural practice, is exempt from TPO consent and conservation area notice. Felling or heavier work on protected trees usually still needs consent, so check with your council.

How to choose a tree surgeon

  • Insurance: ask to see a public liability certificate (the Arboricultural Association recommends at least £5m), and employers' liability, which is a legal requirement if they have staff.
  • Qualifications: chainsaw and climbing work should be done by people holding NPTC (City & Guilds) or Lantra certificates. Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor status is a stronger check.
  • A written quote: it should say exactly what will be cut, whether the stump is ground out, and whether waste and logs are taken away.
  • Standards: ask whether the work will follow BS 3998, the British Standard for tree work.
  • Protected trees: a good firm will check for a TPO or conservation area and can make the application. See our TPO guide.

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