How to Prune Apple Trees

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For apple trees to produce the best harvests, proper tree pruning is needed. Pruning apple trees is easy to understand, but does require some labor and a degree of flexibility. Learn how to prune apple trees so that your trees produce the best apple harvests each fall.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Step1

Prune your apple trees in late winter or very early spring, before any blossoms or new growth develops.

Step2

Put on gloves and take the pruning shears. Trim dead branches from apple trees first.

Step3

Trim trees by cutting new growth and the "Y" junctures. Start from the top and move down.

Step4

Remove branches that shade the interior of the tree. You want sun exposure for as much of the tree as possible.

Step5

Leave plenty of "scaffold" branches, branches that are lower on the tree. You want these branches there for support and growth.

Tips & Warnings

Don't prune once the blossoms are on the tree or when there is fruit on the tree. Pruning triggers new growth.
Don't be afraid to prune too much; the tree can always grow back.
If you need to use a ladder, have a second person there to stabilize it.