{"id":24332,"date":"2020-12-17T15:16:46","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T04:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/?p=24332"},"modified":"2021-07-06T13:39:53","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T02:39:53","slug":"how-to-prune-an-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/how-to-prune-an-apple\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prune an apple tree correctly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning how to prune an apple tree correctly is important if you want to have access to delicious fruit in your very own backyard (or front yard). These trees require some basic maintenance and an annual pruning to remain in good shape. You need to know when to cut and how to cut specifically.<\/span><\/p>\n

As apple trees produce fruit on long-lived branched fruiting spurs, they do not require as much work as some other fruit trees. You can even wait a couple of years before needing to touch them at all! We have all of the tips to make sure your fruit growing endeavour is a success. Read on to learn how to prune an apple tree and keep them healthy and happy for many years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding how your apple tree produces fruit<\/span><\/h2>\n

The pruning process has a lot to do with how your apple tree produces fruit. Apple trees will undergo extensive new growth every year inclusive of new shoots and growth of existing branches. A ring or band of tissue will form around the shoots, and it is important to be able to spot this when it comes to pruning. The tree will spout new flower buds each summer that will open up next spring as well!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The importance of pruning your tree<\/span><\/h2>\n

The correct pruning of an apple tree leads to better fruit production. If there is too much shade through the interior of the tree, you will see a decrease in flowering and weakened branches. The sunlight gives your <\/span>tree strength, so pruning helps it reach all of the areas of the tree while also improving air circulation, which lessens the risk of disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pruning<\/a> also removes dead and dying branches while keeping your tree within a reasonable size and shape. There’s no point growing fruit on a huge tree that it’s too hard to pick from after all! The more open your canopy, the larger and healthier the fruit. An interesting rule of thumb is the less fruit you have on your tree, the bigger apples that are on there will be. Your tree has a limit on its energy resources, so pruning helps it to give that energy more directly to what is left, as opposed to spreading small amounts out over more space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When to prune your apple tree<\/span><\/h2>\n

The best time of the year to prune an apple tree is late winter or early spring as this is when your tree is still dormant. The goal is to prune before active growth begins, and it will be easier to see and avoid the buds at this time. If you want to do some summer pruning, aim for late winter, but do not over prune at this point as it will weaken your tree when mixed with the heat. This will also decrease your fruit size and quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Elisabeth Wales<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to prune an apple tree<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are primary ways to shape and prune your apple tree:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A natural shape that lets your tree grow into a large tree that leads to smaller apples overall<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Cultivated into a specific shape with one main trunk and several side limbs or two or more primary branches to fit a small space\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A shape that will grow along a wall creating a vine-like look<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can choose between a thinning cut or a heading cut, the primary difference being how much shoot or branch is removed. Thinning cuts reduce the number of branches and heading cuts increase them by encouraging shoot growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To perform these two cuts, do the following<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Thinning:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Remove a shoot or branch completely at its base\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Heading:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Remove the shoot or branch so that part of it stays on the tree, basically like shortening branches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Pruning in 5 Steps<\/span><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Assess the size and shape of the tree, noting dead branches, and limbs that are longer than you want to decide what needs to be pruned.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Remove dead or damaged wood as well as any new growth coming from the base of the trunk. Use a thinning cut if a branch is dead or a heading cut to remove sections of dead wood<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Remove branches at the top of the tree, or sides where necessary to craft the overall size and shape<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Open up the canopy by removing branches that are too close to one another or ones that are growing back into the centre of the tree<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Trim roughly 20% to 30% of the active growth (this is where it is handy to know where the new growth starts)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Tips to improve your apple tree pruning<\/span><\/h2>\n

        The following are some handy tips to keep in mind when pruning our apple tree:<\/span><\/p>\n