Pruning a Mature 'Bonfire' Patio Peach

The 'Bonfire' patio peach is bred for ornamental foliage, not fruit quality (the peaches are hard and small). At 8 years old and 8 ft tall with ground-touching limbs, it needs structural pruning for health and appearance.

When & How to Prune

• Timing: Late winter/early spring, while dormant, before new growth starts.
• Goal: Shorten and thin branches; establish a pleasing shape.
• Method: Use a well-illustrated pruning guide—there’s a right and wrong cut. Take your time; it may take a few seasons to master.

Making the Fruit Edible

If you want to use the peaches: harvest firm, ripen in a paper bag at room temperature until sweet, then combine with other fruit in cobblers or preserves.

Pruning is the single most important task for a peach tree after watering. Invest in a good book with diagrams.