How to properly trim, shape and spray a currant bush: advice from an agronomist

In order for the currant bush to produce a rich and high-quality harvest, it is important to carry out properly shaping pruning.

Sanitary pruning should also be carried out annually, during which damaged, weak and diseased branches are removed.

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told how to carry out formative pruning of currants.

Provided that pruning is done in a timely and correct manner, by the age of six you will have a currant bush consisting of 20 healthy branches of different ages.

Peculiarities of pruning currant bushes

A fruit-bearing adult currant bush also requires constant care, during which branches older than 7 years are removed using pruning shears.

Instead, three basal shoots are left. It is important to note that weak, low basal shoots should be completely removed.

When pruning a bush on skeletal branches, the ends of annual shoots should not be shortened. Particular responsibility should be taken when pruning frozen branches.

There is no need to rush in this case, since it is difficult to determine exactly how badly the bush has been damaged in early spring.

It is recommended to prune frozen bushes at the end of May or beginning of June. At this time, the damaged part of the bush will already be visible and it will be possible to prune the frozen branch.

It is worth noting that there is no need to rush to cut off old branches if they are still bearing fruit, as they can be rejuvenated.

All that needs to be done in this case is to cut them to the side branching. At the same time, sanitary pruning is performed.

Currant bushes can be pruned twice a year, namely in the fall before the first night frosts and in the spring before the buds appear.

How to increase protection of currant bush from diseases and pests

If currant bushes are not cared for properly, this can lead to a deterioration in the quality of the harvest and even the death of the plant.

It is important to note that chemical treatment of the currant bush should be carried out strictly before flowering begins.

If there is a need for processing during the ripening of berries, then it is permissible to use only preparations of biological origin.

Note that plant protection from diseases and pests includes various preventive measures, as well as treatment with chemicals. What is important to know about treating currant bushes.

- You can protect the bush from pests if you spray it with insecticides in a timely manner.

- You can increase protection against diseases with the help of fungicides.

- Currants can be sprayed only in dry weather. It is best to spray early in the morning or closer to sunset.

It is not recommended to start spraying if dew has fallen on the plant, before and immediately after rain.

- Spraying currant bushes with chemicals should only be done while wearing special protective clothing.

- The final treatment of currant bushes should be done without chemicals at least three weeks before harvesting.

Compliance with recommendations regarding pruning and spraying currant bushes is guaranteed to allow you to harvest a rich and high-quality crop from the bush you are growing every year.

Previously we talked about when and how to treat apple trees .