How to prune almond 'mission'

Late winter while dormant, before bud swell (late January–February). Prune to an open-vase form. Head the previous season's long shoots back by one-third; thin cluttered spurs and remove dead, diseased, or crossing wood. Make cuts just outside the branch collar for clean healing.

Annually, every dormant season. 'Mission' almond is a late-blooming, self-fertile variety often used as a pollenizer. It requires the same annual dormant pruning as other almonds to renew bearing spurs and maintain an open canopy. Remove roughly 20% of canopy each winter; thin inward-growing shoots and head back long scaffolds to encourage lateral shoot production for the following season.

Prune to an open-vase form. Head the previous season's long shoots back by one-third; thin cluttered spurs and remove dead, diseased, or crossing wood. Make cuts just outside the branch collar for clean healing.