There is a proverbial discussion on the farm about what to cut and what to keep. This dates pretty far back from what I hear and it had to happen before we could get started.
These bushes are old and the recommendation would be to replace them. But they are still bearing.
There is another recommendation to take them down to just a few inches above the ground and let new growth develop over the next few years. They are tall and will be hard to reach at harvest time.
After examination of the trees we just decided to start by removing all dead wood and branches that intervened in other trees and open up the centers.
For me it just took getting over my initial resistance to hurting anything.
Once the pruning was underway it was a very enjoyable afternoon. The job was done and the result satisfying.
It was interesting, though, how the one who had advocated the hardest for the more extreme cutting mourned the most every loss of fruit bud.
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