Pruning Peach Saplings

When my peach sapling (planted from seed) reaches 30 – 40 cm in height, this is when I expect it to start giving off branches.

To encourage the branching, I cut off the leaves in the lower part of the plant.

1. I do this to direct the plant’s energy from growing leaves to growing branches.
2. Because the lower leaves come in contact with the soil, & can pick up diseases & transfer it to the rest of the plant.
3. This causes the stem to thicken and strengthen so that it can carry the newly formed branches without bending.