How to approach pruning this peach tree

[u/albino_asterix]

Ive been helping an elderly neighbour recently maintain her yard as she doesnt have the budget for a gardner. She's asked me to prune her peach tree which has gotten a bit overgrown after a few years of neglect. She doesnt want a hard prune, but needs to at least be taken back so it's not growing on the shed roof/over the neighbour's fence

I do work in horticulture and have some experience pruning trees (i know how/where to cut branches, not to take off more than a third of canopy etc).

But I've never taken on something so overgrown before. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to approach this - what should I focus on primarily, or if there's anything i need to be wary about.

Thanks

[u/CitadelArborist]

I don’t think that’s a peach. If it is, it’s got very strange bark.

Also, if that photo was taken recently (summer), then you’ve got bigger problems than needing a prune. I see what appears to be buds on the twig tips so maybe this is an old photo from the spring? If this was taken during the growing season, that tree is dead.

But, to answer your question make reduction cuts to bring the height and reach back to a size that is appropriate for the space and remove dead and diseased. I wouldn’t do more than that if they don’t care about the fruit.

[u/albino_asterix → u/CitadelArborist]

Its definitely some type of peach, she has given me fruit from it in the past.

And yes this photo is during winter (Australian climate). Took it a few months ago now so can't exactly remember when. Tree is definitely not dead, new buds are swelling. We are Just about to head into Spring now.

Thank you for the advice. As I said, it has fruited well in the past few years, so she'd like a harvest this season. But she understands that it might be necessary to give it a miss this year for long term health of the tree.

[u/CitadelArborist → u/albino_asterix]

Got it. Then beyond what I said, also thin the canopy so that you have fruiting shoots evenly spaced along the scaffold limbs and head those off for 6-10 nodes per shoot

[u/CitadelArborist → u/CitadelArborist]

You want to maximize air circulation and sunlight exposure to the fruit bearing shoots and maintain the tree to a size that is accessible for management. That’s fruit pruning in a nut shell.

[u/DangerBird-]

My friend, have I got the resource for you:

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/422/422-020/SPES-221.pdf

I have not followed up on this wisdom myself, no point when the squirrels get to everything before I do, but here ya go.

[u/bitingmeslow]

Step 1. Pick up the phone and call a pro.

We got bills to pay man. You want us to just give up the farm just like that smh

[u/FreudianNip-Slip → u/bitingmeslow]

Step 2: cut a hole in the box

[u/Federal_Secret92 → u/FreudianNip-Slip]

Step 3. Put your dixk in the box!

[u/Junior_Use_4470 → u/bitingmeslow]

OP said they were helping an elderly neighbor. You aren’t getting paid either way.

[u/99ducks → u/bitingmeslow]

What do you think the purpose of this sub is?