Content
IN autumn currant needs to eliminate unnecessary shoots. How to cut currants in the fall depends on the variety and age of the plants. It is necessary to provide the necessary care annually, regardless of the stage of development of the bush.
Other shrubs are processed in a similar way. Pruning currants, honeysuckle and gooseberries in the fall is done with a pruning shear.
Benefits of currant pruning
Autumn pruning is a mandatory step in shrub processing. Caring for currants in the fall has a number of advantages:
- promotes the emergence of new strong shoots;
- nutrients are directed to the ovary;
- the crowding of shoots on currants decreases;
- in spring, the shrub does not waste energy on the growth of foliage on old branches;
- the risk of the spread of pests and diseases is reduced;
- the remaining shoots receive more sunlight;
- due to autumn care, plantings are rejuvenated;
- the duration of fruiting of the shrub increases to 20 years;
- the productivity of the bush increases;
- the process of picking berries is facilitated.
Pruning time
The best time to prune your shrub is in the fall. In summer, the plant develops actively when new shoots appear. Some of them bring great harvest, while others create shade and take the life force of the shrub.
Proper processing will allow the plant to overwinter and channel nutrients for further growth in the spring.
Trim black and red currant it is necessary before the cold weather at the onset of autumn, when the leaves fall and the sap flow stops.
Spring is not the best time to process the bush, since the growing season for currants begins early. Spring pruning is done until the end of February.
Not all gardeners have the opportunity to visit the site at the end of winter, so it is better not to postpone the procedure. Then spring care will include only a re-examination of the shrub and the removal of frozen shoots.
Pruning principles
In order for the procedure to benefit the plant, you need to adhere to the principles of how to properly cut currants:
- The main purpose of autumn pruning is to provide the shoot with access to the sun's rays. If the age of the bush is more than 4 years, then it is formed by 6 large shoots that grow from the base. If the age of the plant is unknown, then you need to pay attention to the color of the wood. Darker bark is typical for older branches.
- Shrub pruning starts at the base. Shoots older than 5 years are pruned, even if they do not have external defects. Even with strong shoots, the yield decreases after a certain time.
- Shoots that have appeared in the current year are removed. They can be left if the bush is old and will continue to bear fruit for another two years. Pruning currants in the fall is a good opportunity to get cuttings... Before winter, they will take root, and in the spring a new bush will begin to form.
- Then you need to follow the main shoots. Be sure to trim the lateral growths formed in the current or last year. When carrying out work, you need to remember the need to lighten the bush. If the location of the growth is in doubt, then it is better to trim it. If the plant does not receive sunlight, it will negatively affect the yield.
- The upper part of the bush is left unchanged. Buds and future berries are formed on it.Autumn processing of currants is carried out by eliminating thin tops, since they are most susceptible to winter frosts.
- Before pruning, you need to assess the condition of the shoots. If they have twisted leaves, then this indicates an anthracnose disease. If such signs are found, we cut off the shoots. In the presence of thick buds, the likelihood of a tick is high. The cut branches are burned to avoid the spread of pests and diseases.
Black currant processing
When working with shrubs, you need to follow the basic principles of pruning. Depending on the age of the bush, certain nuances are taken into account. This will help preserve the crop and ensure the normal development of the black currant. The pruning process varies for seedlings, two-year-old or older currant and gooseberry bushes, which are processed in the same way.
Pruning seedlings
Caring for a currant bush begins in the early stages of its development. If you do not pay attention to this procedure, then the shrub will grow sprawling and, over time, will lose the ability to produce a high yield.
The planting of the bush is carried out in prepared holes, the dimensions of which are about 50 cm.The depth of the hole should be 40 cm.The bushes are lowered into the holes at an angle of 45 degrees so that the root collar remains at a depth of 5 cm.Then the roots are straightened and covered with earth. After watering the seedlings, they start pruning.
In seedlings, the top of the shoots is cut off, leaving 2-3 buds. The currant bush should include no more than 4 shoots, which will allow you to get good growth during the growing season. The height of the seedling should be 25-40 cm. In a year, the plant will be able to release up to 6 new shoots.
Trimming is shown in the diagram:
2-year-old currant pruning
In the second year of the development of the shrub, the first pruning is carried out in July. The branches of the bush must be shortened by 2 buds, which is usually about 10 cm. This procedure activates the vitality of the bush, which will give an increase even before the end of the year.
Pruning of black currants in the fall is carried out until the end of October. If a lot of lateral branches have appeared on the plant, then they must be removed. Weak branches that create shade and prevent other shoots from developing should be removed. They will not have time to form and will be too weak to withstand the winter frosts.
As a result, the plant will not receive enough nutrients. In any case, in the spring it will be necessary to eliminate the shoots damaged by frost.
The pruning schemes are as follows:
Pruning adult bushes
At the age of 3 years, a lot of shoots are formed in currants. An adult shrub contains 15 to 20 branches growing from the ground. In the fall, be sure to prune weakened shoots that have not received the necessary development.
Annual shoots are cut in mid-July, leaving no more than 4 buds. Dry and damaged branches are also subject to pruning. As in the previous year, one-year-old shoots must be eliminated, and the most promising ones are left.
When you cut off the extra branches, you need to pay attention to the old shoots. From the fifth year, black currants need to be rejuvenated. Old branches are removed at the root. If the branches are on the ground, then they are also cut off, leaving no stumps. If a lichen grows on a bush, it must be eliminated.
Processing of red and white currants
Red and white currants have their own characteristics that must be considered when caring for bushes. When processing seedlings, a similar scheme is used as for black currant.
In autumn, 3-4 strongest shoots are left near the bush. If the shrub grows slowly, then it is enough to shorten the branches by 1/3 of their length.
The fruiting period of one red currant branch is about 8 years. Therefore, the autumn bush must contain shoots of various ages. The total number of branches should be about 15-20.
Shrub care with red and white berries are less expensive. The plant does not develop as fast as black currant. therefore pruning currants in autumn is of a preventive nature. If you eliminate too many branches, then the yield of the bush will drop dramatically.
Shrubs with red and white berries do not require frequent rejuvenation. It is necessary to prune branches that are up to 7 years old. As a result, three root shoots remain.
Conclusion
Currant pruning is carried out in spring or autumn. Spring processing is carried out as early as possible, until the process of sap flow has begun. The best time for processing bushes is autumn. Seedlings, young and adult plants are subject to pruning. It is especially important to form a bush for currants that have not reached the age of two.
The gooseberry and currant bush is processed by removing excess, dry and old shoots. Red currants grow more slowly, so it's much easier to care for them. With proper processing, the fruiting period of the bush increases, which gets the opportunity for normal development.
The order of work is presented in the video:
