January and February are good months to do your fruit tree pruning. We prune all varieties of fruit trees .
Not all fruit trees are pruned the same way. For example, peaches need the greatest amount of pruning as new fruit is born on the previous years growth. It is important to cut only a portion of the previous years growth off each new growth where fruit is desired. When a peach tree is not pruned it will bear fruit farther and farther down the branch. The branches get heavier and tend to break from the weight of the fruit. When pruned properly this tendency is minimized. Apple trees on the other hand have fruit spurs which can produce fruit every year for up to 17 years. It is not as critical when heading back apple branches from the tips.
All mature fruit trees will benefit from some thinning. Cutting out dead branches and crossing branches is a common technique.
Clink on this link for some basic pruning techniques. http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/2161/17312.pdf
Dormant oil applications can reduce or eliminate disease and insect problems.
Pruning tools should be disinfected after each bush or tree is pruned in the winter. Here is a partial list of what can be used to accomplish this.
denatured methyl alcohol - (shellac thinner)
10% sodium hypochlorite (i.e. bleach) solution - can be quite corrosive on pruning equipment. Use with care!
a general purpose household disinfectant such as Lysol
