pendragon orchard and vine
Turning Landscape into Legacy
testimonials
"I’d been pruning my backyard apple trees every winter, and every year they exploded in water shoots. Alex Pendragon came in mid-summer, explained why timing mattered, and reshaped everything with such care. This season, I actually harvested fruit instead of frustration." - Ballard Man
"We’ve hired plenty of landscapers, but none understood fruit trees like this. They knew what to leave, what to take, and why. The trees look natural, not overworked, and for the first time, we have healthy structure and real yield." Monica and Mike
"I wouldn't let anyone else touch my heritage orchard. A great reference from a friend. Oh, and they grafted my heritage plum onto a new rootstock!" Jesse Ford
"These folks know how to prune for fruit and health. And they talked to me about every step. I learned so much. Got my figs pruned for structure. So cool. Pruning is way more than a winter hack." - DD
The Philosophy of Fruit Tree Pruning
PNW fruit tree pruning should be a conversation across seasons. Light adjustments in winter, fruit-focused cuts in summer, each gesture attuned to the tree’s living rhythm.
Summer fruit tree pruning tempers growth without panic. Wounds heal faster. Cuts redirect energy rather than shock the system. Done right, it is less about domination and more about guidance: thinning to let in light, balancing to bear fruit, easing the burden without stealing the future.
And for the overgrown, the neglected, the wild? Patience is the truest tool. No tree should be forced into compliance in a single season. A PNW fruit tree pruning plan spread across seasons is not weakness — it is wisdom. Thoughtfulness, time, restraint: these heal. Hard winter cuts do not.
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Fruit Tree Pruning FAQ
The fruit tree pruning questions we are most often asked.
01. When is the best time to prune fruit trees in the Pacific Northwest?
Winter fruit tree pruning in the PNW shapes structure but can overstimulate regrowth. Summer pruning controls size and reduces water sprouts. The healthiest approach combines both — winter for form, summer for balance.
02. Why do so many fruit trees grow water sprouts after pruning?
Heavy winter pruning triggers stress hormones that push vertical shoots instead of fruiting wood. A lighter touch and follow-up summer thinning keep trees calm and productive.
03. Can I prune my fruit trees myself, or should I hire a professional?
Light maintenance cuts are fine for homeowners, but structural pruning or neglected trees benefit from professional care. A trained pruner reads the tree’s response before cutting — protecting both form and yield.
04. How often should fruit trees be pruned?
Most mature trees need annual attention. Even minimal yearly pruning prevents crowding, maintains airflow, and reduces disease pressure, especially in our cool, humid Northwest climate.
05. Does summer pruning reduce fruit yield?
No — when done correctly, it concentrates energy into ripening fruit instead of excess growth. Summer pruning is the key to consistent crops and manageable trees in coastal and inland PNW orchards alike.
06. What types of fruit trees do you prune?
We only prune fruit trees. Along with apple, we prune most nut trees, and lesser known fruits like fig, Asian pear, shipova, jujube, quince, medlar, and vines such as kiwi and grape.
07. What areas do you service?
We are based in the San Juan Islands but service Seattle, Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, and the Maritime NW.
08. Do you graft as well? What about heritage trees?
Yes — grafting is one of our specialties. We graft to restore, preserve, and sometimes reinvent old trees. Heritage varieties that have lost vigor can often be renewed by grafting healthy wood onto resilient rootstock, or by adding compatible varieties to extend bloom time and pollination. For older, declining trees, grafting can recover genetics that might otherwise disappear. We also design multi-graft fruit trees and living archives of rare cultivars, combining traditional orchard skills with modern horticultural science to keep history alive and productive.
More questions? Contact us.
