Apple Tree Pruning
(continued - page 5)
|
|
How
To Prune Apple Trees
This article deals with pruning of bush trees (all rootstocks are pruned in the same
manner) and cordons. First, fruit is produced from shoots which are in their second (or later) year.
One of the aims of pruning is to produce a balance (roughly half and
half) between side shoots produced this year and side shoots produced
last year. |
This will provide a crop of apples in the current year and
sufficient shoots for next year's crop.
Second, when you prune during winter (while the tree is dormant), this will invigorate the
tree, causing it to grow more during the following season. If you prune
during summer this will cause the tree to grow less during that growing season.
Spring pruning has an effect somewhere between winter and summer
pruning.
How To Prune Bush Trees
The first pruning should occur immediately after planting (normally
November or December) - make sure you know if you have a one or two year old tree. The examples below
show pruning starting at a one year old tree.
|
|
PRUNE
A ONE YEAR OLD TREE
A one year old tree should be pruned immediately after planting - cut
off the top half of the trunk with a sharp pair of secateurs.
Before cutting, make sure that the bottom half contains at least four buds
or formed branches. If
not, make the cut higher, above the fourth bud.
Click here to see
pictures of a real one year old (maiden) apple tree before and after
pruning.
|
 |
PRUNE A TWO YEAR OLD TREE
Prune from December to February. The pink coloured parts of the tree
show growth in the previous year, this should not be pruned. The black
coloured side shoots should all be pruned by a third - see the thick
black lines. Click here
for a picture of an un-pruned and pruned 2 year
old tree.
When pruning, cut just above an outward facing bud - this bud will then
produce a side shoot in the spring which will grow away from the centre of the tree.
|
 |
PRUNE A THREE YEAR OLD TREE
Prune from December to February. Pruning is similar to the
two-year old tree - the pink coloured parts of the tree
show growth in the previous year, this should not be pruned. The black
coloured side shoots should all be pruned by a third.
Always prune to just above an outward facing bud.
|
 |
PRUNE A FOUR YEAR OLD TREE
Prune from December to February. Pruning is the similar to the
three-year old tree - the pink coloured parts of the tree show growth in
the previous year, this should not be pruned unless it is diseased. The black coloured side
shoots should all be pruned by a third.
Always
prune to just above an outward facing bud.
|
A
five year old tree can be considered mature and the basic shape will
have been established. Pruning should consist of keeping the centre of
the tree relatively clear of growth, removing all weak or diseased
growth and keeping the tree within the space available. Remember that
apples will grow on wood produced the previous year, so always leave a
good proportion (say 50%) of the previous year's growth.CLICK
HERE FOR NEXT APPLE PAGE
(prune a cordon)
CLICK
HERE FOR PREVIOUS APPLE PAGE
|
