Apple Tree Pruning

Apple trees are versatile trees that are available in different shapes, sizes and varieties. A home apple orchard is not only the best way to get tasty homegrown apples but it can also enhance the landscaping value of a yard or even a really small patio. The numerous varieties of the apple trees can actually be a real boost for the amateur gardener inside you. All you need to do is to know some basics about the apple tree plantation and caring techniques for apple trees.

Apples are produced on long-lived apple tree twigs which are called spurs. In order to give way to newer apple flowers, it is very important to get rid of older growths. The best way to achieve that is by pruning apple trees. Apple tree pruning (or pruning any fruit tree for that matter) brings needless fear and apprehension to most gardeners. In my opinion, pruning fruit trees is really easy, once you are aware about its exact process. To make the task even easier, here are a few simple apple tree pruning tips for you.

Apple Tree Pruning Tips

Pruning apple trees is an important task to improve growth of new tree branches and yield a better fruit production. Apple tree pruning provides the tree with a solid framework that plays a vital role in healthy fruit production. The best time to prune fruit trees is during their dormant state, which is probably during the winter season. Late winter or early spring is the best time for apple tree pruning. You can conduct summer pruning only if you want to get rid of apple tree suckers (shoots that arise at the trunks of the trees).

Apple tree pruning is an annual gardening project, which will ensure a steady growth of trees along with a steady yield of healthy apples. You may want to start pruning from the very first season of the apple tree plantation, which is needed to be continued every year. First pruning is needed to be done during early spring time or just before the buds start to grow. Once the apple tree gets to the height of 36 inches above the ground, you can start regular apple tree pruning. It is an important step to encourage lateral branching. Once the tree reaches to the desired height, you can try pruning it during summer, in order to stunt unwanted branch growth.

Apple Tree Pruning Guide

Along with the routine pruning, apple tree pruning should be done in scenarios like the sucker growth, broken or crisscrossing branches, downward and/or upward growing branches, whorls, narrow crotches, etc. It would be a mistake to leave the apple trees ungroomed for long. Here are some important tips on apple tree pruning. More on fruit tree pruning instructions.

• As the first step of apple tree pruning, you need to groom the trunk as the central leader of the pyramid shaped tree. In case you have planted a whip, then give a cut on it, at an height of about 81 cm. This will stimulate growth of new branches.
• If you have planted a tree that already has side branches, then cut back its trunk at 81 cm and trim all the branches till they are 61 cm from the ground level. Now, cut off all the remaining branches to 5 cm - 10 cm from the trunk. Make sure that there are not more than 2 buds on each stub.
• Now, during the first winter, your job is to choose 3 to 5 branches that spiral around the trunk, as the scaffold branches. But, there should be 10 cm vertical distance between each of the branches. During the second summer, make sure that the leader shoot is growing in the vertical direction and cut off the competitive leader shoots, if any.
• During the second winter, you need to choose a second set of the scaffold branches which should be 2 or 3 feet higher than the first set. In case you find that the tree has not reached the required height, then you must skip apple tree pruning for the third winter season.

Now, you need to repeat the same process until you get 3 to 4 sets of scaffold branches. Make sure to keep the branches in shape and perform a regular pruning of the diseased, crossing and unwanted apple tree branches. Along with the previously mentioned scenarios, mature apple tree pruning is necessary in case of crisscross limbs, weak stems and diseased branches. If the tree has yielded too many fruits during the earlier season, then you can reduce the number of spurs, in order to avoid overcrowding of the branches. Dwarf apple tree pruning must also be conducted once in a year and in the same manner in which you prune a fully grown apple tree.

More information on:

• How to Grow Apple Trees
• How to Trim a Tree

As I mentioned earlier, apple tree pruning is an easy and quicker task that requires moderate gardening skills along with sharp garden tools. Once you are finished with pruning, you can surely enjoy sweet and tasty apples for many more springs to come!