From the Root: Specialist Juan Buela Provided a Practical Class on How to Prune Fruit Trees to Improve Harvesting

Few jobs are as important—and yet so postponed—as pruning fruit trees. In many fields and farms, fruit trees are planted with hope, but over time they are left to grow without shape or control. The result: large, dense trees that are difficult to harvest and produce less. Pruning is not a punishment or damage: it is a key tool to shape the plant, guide its growth, and ensure it produces where and how we want. To delve deeper into this essential management, the De Raíz team traveled to Connie Moreno Quintana's farm, where they participated in a practical session with Juan Buela, a specialist in pruning fruit trees with agroecological management. The guideline was clear: learn by doing, walking through orchards and understanding what, how, and when to cut. Buela explained that each cut has a purpose. In citrus trees, which are perennial, he recommended maintaining a closed foliage on the outside, but open on the inside: light must enter and allow fruit to be seen. In contrast, for ...