Prune in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant
Use clean, sharp pruning tools
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first
Cut out crossing or rubbing branches
Remove inward-growing branches to open the center
Thin crowded areas to improve airflow and light
Keep the strongest scaffold branches
Shorten overly long shoots to maintain shape
Remove suckers from the base and water sprouts from the trunk or limbs
Make cuts just outside the branch collar
Avoid removing more than one-third of the tree in a single season
Disinfect tools between cuts if disease is present
Remove any fallen pruned material from around the tree