Pruning gooseberries in the spring for beginners in pictures: video, how to properly prune when planting, old, neglected bushes, how to shape.

Content

1 Do I need to prune gooseberries in spring
2 Types of pruning
3 When to prune gooseberries in spring
4 How to properly prune gooseberries in spring
5 Caring for gooseberries after pruning
6 Conclusion

Gooseberry is an unpretentious and fertile growing crop that requires regular pruning. Fast-growing young shoots in a few years turn the bush into dense, impassable thickets that do not allow light to pass through. Pruning gooseberries in the spring for beginners in pictures will clearly show what and how to remove so that the berry bush annually pleases with a rich harvest and a neat appearance.

Do I need to prune gooseberries in spring

Gooseberries need regular pruning for a number of reasons:

the rapid formation of young shoots thickens the bush, which becomes impervious to light, as a result of which the gooseberry berries become smaller, and their number decreases;
dense interlacing of thorns contributes to the development of diseases and the reproduction of pests, which makes harvesting inconvenient;
yield also falls due to lack of nutrition, most of which is taken by new branches;
the bush loses its shape, its long branches fall on the soil and take root;
gooseberries are favored by pests and diseases that become a threat to other nearby plants.

Important! The most productive branches of the gooseberry are those that have reached 6 - 8 years old, although the bush itself can bear fruit even at 15 years old. Correct pruning with the formation of a young growth will allow you to make the most of the berry culture.

You can see how to properly prune gooseberries in early spring in the presented video for novice gardeners:

Types of trimming

In spring, the following types of pruning can be carried out on gooseberries:

sanitary - to heal the bush with the removal of old, damaged, dry and diseased branches that interfere with normal growth and development;
formative - for the correct formation of a compact shrub;
anti-aging - to stimulate the growth of new shoots.

A sanitary haircut is carried out annually, shaping - when planting and 3-4 years after, rejuvenating - once every 5 - 6 years.

When to prune gooseberries in spring

The ideal time for the formation of a gooseberry bush is spring, before the active growing season. The buds wake up very early, so the plant is pruned in early spring before the start of sap flow. Gooseberry is one of the earliest fruit crops entering the active vegetation stage after winter. Therefore, its pruning is timed to the time of complete snow melting and slight drying of the earth. Depending on the region, this may be the beginning or the middle of March. After budding, the shrub cannot be cut off, this will significantly weaken its growth and development.

Important! Even in the harshest climatic conditions, gooseberries can release their first leaves as early as early April. The main thing is not to miss the time for a sanitary procedure.

How to properly prune gooseberries in spring

Subject to the deadlines for pruning gooseberries in the spring, which is the most important stage of formation, the bush will delight you with numerous strong shoots next year. In general, pruning activities are not difficult and are divided into three main stages:

Pruning after planting.
Shrub formation for the next year.
Spring revision of a three-year-old or more mature plant.

The first 3 years of life, the gooseberry is given shape, then it is looked after as an adult plant, that is, annually they carry out a sanitary and once in 5 years - a rejuvenating haircut.

Tools and materials

To trim the gooseberries, you will need a sharp pruner and a lopper, which must be disinfected beforehand. To remove thin branches, use a pruner, and thick ones, more than 5 cm in diameter, a lopper. Tools should be comfortable to handle, strong and lightweight for ease of use. The processing of fresh cuts is carried out with a garden pitch, thereby protecting the plant's wounds from pests and infectious diseases. Work with gardening gloves.

Important! The tools must be sharpened, blunt - they will damage the plant, which will hurt for a long time and recover after an aggressive shearing.

General rules for pruning gooseberries in spring

The rules for pruning shrubs are as follows:

the sections are made 1 cm above the kidney, which is directed outward: the growths from the kidneys directed inward are not suitable for growth;
lateral, excess shoots are completely cut off;
old shoots are shortened to the point where they begin to grow;
the thin tips are cut off to a large bud;
do not prune in the summer and remove annual growths;
black shoots are completely cut out: this color signals a powdery mildew infection;
branches far from the main part of the bush and very low placed branches are removed.

The cut should be located just above the bud, directed to the outside of the crown. Most often, gooseberries are grown as a multi-stem bush with skeletal branches of different ages in the amount of 20 - 25 pieces. Do not touch 3 - 6-year-old shoots on which most of the harvest is tied.

How to prune gooseberries in the spring: schemes

Gooseberry pruning in spring by year is clearly shown in the diagram below. However, when working, the following recommendations must be observed:

to stimulate branching, the shoots of the first year are shortened, leaving several healthy buds, especially for weakened plants;
weak branches are removed on strong, healthy bushes, since they still will not bear fruit;
in the first year, the gooseberry should have 3 - 5 buds and shoots shortened by a third;
all shoots growing in the wrong direction are removed the next spring;
to form a voluminous crown on a two-year-old seedling, last year's growths are cut by 1/3;
leave up to 6 - 8 pieces of strong branches;
the third year is an important period of gooseberry cultivation, which enters the fruiting phase. The pruning scheme is repeated: 3 - 5 strong shoots are left from the root growth, young branches are shortened by a third of the length.

Important! Old and damaged branches can also be cut in summer, as they are a source of infections and pests.

How to prune gooseberry bushes in spring when planting

Experienced gardeners carry out the first pruning of a plant before planting a young seedling. If it is strong and developed, then all branches are removed and a few are left with healthy buds in an amount of no more than 4. On a weak seedling, annual shoots are shortened, leaving 2 buds on each. This will increase the branching of the bush. Weak branches are not left. If the first pruning of gooseberries in the spring when planting is done correctly, then by autumn the bush will have at least 5 - 6 annual, strong shoots. When in doubt, it is better to leave the branch than to cut it off.

How to sanitize gooseberry pruning in spring

A plant that is older than 3 years is no longer formed, but only put in order with the help of sanitary or anti-aging pruning for old bushes. Thus, annually during spring care they remove:

frozen, dried and diseased branches;
weak and thin, shoots, as well as those that creep on the ground;
shoots growing inside the bush;
old, dark-colored branches that are infected with powdery mildew or no longer bear fruit.

Important! When pruning, there is no need to leave stumps, which are favorite places of pests and breeding grounds for diseases.

How to form a gooseberry bush in spring

The scheme for the correct formative pruning of gooseberries in spring is as follows:

up to 5 healthy buds with several zero shoots are left on the branches of the current year;
these branches are shortened by a little more than half the length for the next year;
the number of new shoots should increase to 8;
in the third year, the bush already forms about 12 branches, of which the shoots of the current year are shortened and selected from the "zero" 4 most developed;
by the age of five, a young gooseberry has branches of different ages in the amount of 20 - 22 pieces,
old, with a darker bark, branches begin to be removed from this moment.

This formative pruning method ensures regular growth of young growth and good fruiting.

How to prune old and neglected gooseberries in spring

You can also cut off the old gooseberry bush, which "accidentally" lingered on the site, in early spring. Old, twisted, completely diseased, weak branches are initially selected. The dried tops on the remaining shoots are removed at the level of the first lateral process. You cannot get rid of more than a third of the branches in a season at a time. Otherwise, the plant will receive severe stress and will fight for survival, and not the formation of new shoots and a rich harvest. In very advanced cases, rejuvenating spring pruning can be done for several years. For such a pruning of an old gooseberry bush in the spring, all branches are cut off, leaving five of the strongest and most powerful.

Spring pruning of standard gooseberries

The formation of a gooseberry bush in early spring in the shape of a trunk makes it look like a small tree. The step-by-step pruning procedure looks like this.

They choose a powerful vertical branch about 1 meter long and cut off excess processes, as well as those that have grown on the trunk.
The stem is tied to a metal support to prevent it from bending.
All side branches are removed during the season.
The next year, last year's shoots are shortened to the middle of the length, leaving 5 strong branches.
All abnormally growing, inward or outward directed branches are removed.
Young shoots around the stem are completely cut off.

Important! Standard gooseberries are less frost-resistant than bush gooseberries, and they age faster. Therefore, it is worth taking care of replacing the old bush in advance.

How to form a gooseberry bush in spring when grown on a trellis

Trellis growing of berry crops also requires regular pruning. They shape it this way.

From 3 to 5 powerful, strong branches are tied to a wire stretched in advance, having previously shortened them a little. All other processes are removed.
The branches from the middle of the bush are shortened to a greater length than the lateral ones. In shape, the trellis shrub should resemble a fan.
Zero shoots are completely cut off.
From the age of six, rejuvenating pruning is carried out, replacing old shoots with new ones.

A helpful video will explain in detail how to properly prune gooseberries in the spring so as not to harm them and ensure good young growth.

Important! Trellis growing of crops allows you to get large yields, thanks to good lighting and ventilation. In addition, this shape is convenient for picking berries.

Caring for gooseberries after pruning

Pruning young or neglected gooseberries in the spring is a simple matter, but after that it is important to provide good care for the plant to quickly recuperate and heal wounds.Fresh cuts are covered with garden varnish or a mixture of mullein and clay in a ratio of 1 to 2. After pruning, the plant needs abundant watering and feeding with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. It should be carried out regularly - once a week, periodically changing to the application of organic fertilizers. For example, slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. The shrub will positively react to abundant regular watering, especially in dry summers. It is also necessary to mulch the trunk circle with peat, humus or fallen leaves.

Learn more about pruning gooseberries in spring in the video for beginners:

Conclusion

Pruning gooseberries in the spring for beginners in pictures will make it easy to cope with the obligatory agrotechnical technique for caring for berry crops. Detailed instructions and a reliable tool will make it possible to grow a fruiting, productive, neat in shape, shrub. Due to its peculiarities, it quickly, during the year, builds up young growth, therefore, what is cut will be replenished in the same season.

How to cut gooseberries in spring: videos, diagrams, rules for the formation of bushes