How to Prune Grown Apple Trees
An apple tree provides attractive blossoms in spring, shade and beauty throughout the summer, and sweet fruits in fall. Proper pruning doesn't just help the appearance of the tree, it also helps ensure its future health and productivity. Mature trees do not require the complicated training cuts of younger trees, but they must still be regularly pruned to maintain their shape. Prune mature apple trees in late winter when the tree is still dormant so you don't damage tender new growth. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cut out broken and dead branches from the tree with a pruning saw. Make the cuts flush against the healthy branch the dead branch is attached to. Do not leave any stubs of dead wood protruding from a healthy branch, as these heal slowly and leave the apple tree open to infection.
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Prune out any water spout branches, cutting these flush with the parent branch to which they are attached. Water spouts are vertical growing branches that grow more quickly than the other branches on the tree. These branches tend to cross and rub against other branches, causing damage.
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Inspect the crotches of the main lateral branches. Cut off the upper branch on each crotch that has an angle less than 35 degrees. Narrow crotches are weak and leave branches more prone to breakage when the tree is heavy with fruit.
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Cut back branches near the top of the tree to help maintain the apple tree's height. Cut these branches back to the nearest main branch that is at your desired height for the tree.
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Trim away any lower branches that are too weak to hold a full load of fruit without drooping to the ground. Cut these branches off flush with the trunk of the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
Prune apple trees lightly each year instead of heavily every few years. Heavy pruning is more likely to damage the tree.
Unless the branch is dead or broken, only trim off branches that are less than 2 inches in diameter.
References
- Photo Credit Apple-tree image by zalisa from Fotolia.com
