How to prune almond 'nonpareil'

Late winter while dormant, before bud swell (late January–February). Maintain an open-vase structure. Head back the current season's long shoots by one-third; thin out weak or inward-growing spurs and laterals. Remove dead wood and any shoots showing signs of hull rot or shot-hole disease.

Annually, every dormant season. 'Nonpareil' is the benchmark commercial almond cultivar and requires consistent annual dormant pruning to stay productive. It bears on short spurs that age and decline, so thinning older spur wood and heading back long shoots yearly keeps the tree vigorous. Aim to remove around 20% of the canopy each winter to stimulate new lateral growth for the following season's crop.

Maintain an open-vase structure. Head back the current season's long shoots by one-third; thin out weak or inward-growing spurs and laterals. Remove dead wood and any shoots showing signs of hull rot or shot-hole disease.