Knowing how and when to prune apple trees will help you harvest more fruit.
Plus, regular pruning produces sweeter, more flavorful apples.
When pruning an apple tree, a little effort goes a long way.
Credit: Helen Norman
By nature,apple treesare inclined to produce copious amounts of leafy growth and few fruits.
Knowing how and when to prune apple trees is the key to getting your sweetest harvest yet.
Yearly pruning promotes yearly fruit production.
The leafy growth is the trees response to stressit’s attempting to regain its energy-producing structures to sustain itself.
Aim to prune trees when the coldest weather has passed but before the trees start growing in spring.
Wounds will heal quickly in spring and the bare branches make it easier to see the trees structure.
Dont prune during fallor early winter.
A cold winter can cause severe damage to recently pruned areas.
Begin pruning a tree by culling troublesome branchesthat are clearly diseased, dead, or crossing.
Diseased branches are identified by growths or sunken areas in the bark.
A diseased branch may also be discolored.
Dead branches are brittle and break easily when bent.
Crossing branches are those that rub on a nearby stem or grow into the path of a desirable stem.
Mind the Leader
Most apple trees have a central leader or stem that grows toward the sky.
Branches extend from the central leader in whorls to give the tree a pyramid shape.
The central leader provides the main structure or center framework for the tree.Avoid pruning it severely.
Too many leafy branches halt the sunlight and stop apple development.
Begin by pruning vigorous upright shoots.
These are likely water sprouts and do not produce fruit.
Next, prune closely-spaced branches, leaving branches growing away from the trunk that are well-spaced to nearby branches.
Finally, trim any branches or side shoots growing toward the tree’s center.
Step Back
Step away from the tree frequently throughout the pruning process.
Look at the overall shape of the tree.
It should have a loose pyramidal shape.
Identify the central leader.
Analyze branch spacing, identifying branches that are growing too close together.
Begin by identifying the main structure of the tree.
Identify the leader and the well-placed branches extending out from it.
In the first year, remove select branches to expose the inner branches to light and air movement.
Be careful to remove no more than one-third of the trees overall wood.
The next year, continue removing excess growth and opening the center to light.
A branch extending at a narrow angle of 45 degrees or less is prone to weakness and breakage.
The strongest branches extend from the trunk at about a 60-degree angle.
When pruning, look for narrow branch angles and eliminate them when possible.
Remove the spreader stick at theend of the growing season.
Crown reduction is the preferred method for controlling a tree’s size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although these are similar processes, they have different intentions.
Trimming is meant to keep a plant looking nice by cutting away overgrowth.
Pruning is meant to improve the plant’s health by cutting away dead branches.
Apple trees can range in size, growing from 6-30 feet tall.
Smaller varieties are recommended for home gardens since they are easier to manage and to harvest from.
You should fertilize your fruit gardens in early spring for the best results.
