How to Prune Mature Apple Trees

How to prune a mature apple tree

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good quality, sharp pruning shears that have two sharp sides.

1. 

   Pruning is done to encourage growth. This type of pruning should be done in late winter while the trees are dormant. This helps the wounds inflicted by pruning to heal the best. This is also the easist time to see where the flower buds are located. Pruning your trees in late summer will discourage growth.

2. The best apples will grow on branches that are from two to five years old. In order to keep a good supply of branches at this age, prune the older branches out each year. This allows the younger branches to replace them. The best method of pruning for a tree that is cone or pyramid shaped is the central-leader pruning method. In this method, more sunlight is allowed to reach inside the tree. You need to prune the upper branches to stay shorter than the lower branches. It is important to provide wide spacing between the upper and lower branches and to keep the branches about three feet apart on a mature tree.

3. Always make clean cuts so make sure to use good quality, sharp pruning shears that are sharp on both sides. You first need to cut away all dead, broken, or diseased branches. Cut out any wood that crosses over or crowds other branches. Then identify the central leader and prune the other limbs that compete with it. Try to keep more horizontal branches and less vertical branches.

4. Remove limbs that cause too much shading. With a mature tree you want to choose two or three of the oldest, larger branches on the tree for pruning. Notice where they are located and if a younger replacement branch is nearby.

5. Make sure to remove suckers from around the tree base, and spindly shoots and water sprounts from along the limbs. Make the pruning cuts very close to the branch, but not flush. Do not leave any stubs. If the cut is flush with the branch then it will not heal as quickly.

6. If the tree is very neglected- do not try to prune it to perfection at one time. This much excessive pruning would be too much shock for the tree. Try to spread out the pruning process over two or three years to allow it time to heal. To keep it up after that, continue to prune on an annual basis.

[easternrida14]

on 7/31/2009 http://www.ehow.com/how_5223641_make-proper-pruning-cuts.html