How to prune almond 'marcona'

Late winter while fully dormant, before buds begin to swell (late January–February). Maintain an open-vase shape with 3–4 scaffolds. Head long laterals back by one-third and remove crossing, downward-growing, or dead wood. Thin dense spur clusters to allow light into the center of the canopy.

Annually, every dormant season. 'Marcona' is a Spanish-origin almond that grows vigorously and benefits from annual dormant pruning to control size and renew fruiting spurs. Like other almonds it bears on one-year wood, so removing roughly 20% of the canopy each winter — thinning inward shoots and heading back long scaffolds — maintains yields. It can grow into a sizeable tree if left unpruned.

Maintain an open-vase shape with 3–4 scaffolds. Head long laterals back by one-third and remove crossing, downward-growing, or dead wood. Thin dense spur clusters to allow light into the center of the canopy.