How & When to Trim Apple Trees

Anybody who has ever come across a wild apple tree growing in an old field, or even surrounded by young trees in the forest, will know that these wonderful trees do not grow naturally in a manner that is conducive to maximum fruit production. When left unattended, the branches become bunched together very tightly in competition for sunlight, and the resulting fruit is always small. Always trim off unnecessary branches to obtain maximum yield.

When to Trim

Prune apple trees in the late winter or early spring--before the buds have formed, and before the daytime temperatures become too warm. Trim the dead wood a second time in the fall, although this is not as important as the spring thinning. Trim your trees until after they are a year old; most pruning should be accomplished in the first few years of growth. During the summertime, cut sucker shoots away, as well as any dead wood.

How to Trim

Cut the branches close to the main branch with a pair of sharp pruning shears. Cut the side branches as close to the trunk or large branch as possible. A clean, close cut is easy with a pair of sharp pruning shears, and does endanger the tree at all. Cut away branches in a manner that allows sunlight to filter into the whole tree; remove any small branch that is located immediately below another branch, along with some top branches, to allow sunlight to filter into the tree.

Shaping the Tree

Cut away any branches that point downward. They will not receive much sunlight, and will not produce a lot of fruit. The lateral branches that grow out from the main branches are most important for the growth of fruit. Remove any branches that point straight up. As far as the overall shape of the tree is concerned, it is best to shape the tree like a pyramid. Trim the top branches close to the trunk so that light can filter down to the other branches.