Editing Fruit tree pruning (section)

==Overview==
[[Image:Apple spur M D Vaden.jpg|thumb|250px|right|An apple tree sprout is being converted to a branched, fruit-bearing [[fruiting spur|spur]] by an arborist. Numbers show the sequence of cuts, which occurred during two years.]]

Plants form new tissue in an area called the [[meristem]], located near the tips of roots and shoots, where active cell division takes place. Meristem growth is aimed at ensuring that leaves are quickly elevated into sunlight, and that roots are able to penetrate deeply into the [[soil]]. Once adequate height and length is achieved by the stems and roots, they begin to thicken to support the plant. On the shoots, these growing tips of the plant are called ''apical'' buds. The ''[[apical meristem]]'' (or tip) produces the growth hormone [[auxin]], which not only promotes cell division, but also diffuses downwards and inhibits the development of lateral bud growth that otherwise competes with the apical tip for light and nutrients. Removing the apical tip and its suppressive hormone lets lower, dormant lateral buds develop, and the buds between the leaf stalk and stem produce new shoots that compete to become lead growth.

Manipulating this natural response to damage (known as the principle of [[apical dominance]]) by processes such as pruning (as well as [[coppicing]] and [[pollarding]]) allows the arborist to determine the shape, size, and productivity of many fruiting trees and bushes. The main aim when pruning fruit trees is usually to maximize fruit yield. Unpruned trees tend to produce large numbers of small fruits that may be difficult to reach when harvesting by hand. Branches can become broken by the weight of the crop, and the cropping may become [[biennial plant|biennial]] (that is, bearing fruit only every other year). Overpruned trees on the other hand tend to produce light crops of large, flavourless fruit that does not store well. Careful pruning balances shoot growth and fruit production.

One of the simplest instructions given in nearly every article or book chapter on the subject is that no branches should cross each other, that is, rub against each other, and that one of them should be selected and removed.