How to Prune Tip-Bearing Apple Trees

Tip-bearing apple trees are deciduous trees found growing in the Northeast. Tip-bearing trees produce flower buds on new growth tips from the previous year, hence the name "tip-bearing." Used for making jams, jellies and pies, apple trees have pink and white clustered blossoms that emerge in early spring. Apple trees grow between 5 to 50 feet tall, and have flat, oval-shaped leaves in varying shades of green. They are found growing on hills and orchards and prefer moist and well-drained soils.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Prune the tip-bearing apple tree in late February or early April when they are emerging from winter's dormancy.

2. Prune the leader of each main branch to the first terminal bud, which is the top end of the stem, using pruning shears. Remove all hardy lateral or side branches to encourage more shoots the following season.

3. Prune back old branches to the young saplings or leaf buds. This will reduce overgrowth and free up nutrients to the young shoots. Leave the lateral branches less than 12 inches long on the tree.

4. Remove all broken or twisted branches by cutting the entire branch. Remove all diseased or insect-infected branches to prevent infection.

5. For young tip-bearing apple trees, prune back 1 to 2 inches to prevent removing all the flower buds.

Tips & Warnings

• Sterilize pruning shears with methanol to minimize the chance of spreading disease around the apple tree.

• To prevent hazards, always wear thick gardening gloves when using sharp pruning shears.

References

• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service