fruit peeps prune much differently that tree peeps ... and most of them do not visit here ...

and there are some very highly expert fruit peeps.. in the fruit forum ... and it is a rather active forum ...

i suggest you try a post there.. and even better.. include a pic of the tree for very specific pruning advice ...

and you may get advice here.. but i always prefer multiple opinion ....

ken

What Ken said, plus....yes, let the little buggers grow some more. Fruit production pruning is all about two things; Getting sunlight to penetrate everywhere in the canopy, and keeping the overall height within reach of whatever harvesting method you'll be employing. But neither factor should be foremost at this early stage.

+oM

And I, trained in fruit tree culture, would say that apples and other fruit trees are usually pruned first as very young whips. :-)

It is up to YOU to create a strong and sturdy scaffolding for your trees and that training should begin very, very early on in the life of the trees. Truly, your trees are past due.

Visit the Fruit and Orchards Forum for more advice. I also know for a fact that your Rutgers Extension has a strong home horticulture program and probably quite a bit of good information about the growing of fruit trees for backyard growers.

I'd be totally surprised if there wasn't a fruit tree pruning workshop held in your area sometime in the late winter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here to contact your Extension Service

also ... its apple season..

GO VISIT A U PICK ORCHARD ... and if you can do it during the week ... you might be able to talk with the manager .. about it all ... [dont go on a weekend and expect his time when he has 100 crazed cider idiots milling about.. he might not give you the time of day .. lol]

i gotta be real honest.. you might be surprised how ugly orchard trees are ... lol ... the system is not about being pretty .... though i am sure.. speed is more important to them.. and with more time and one or two trees.. you can achieve the goal and some beauty ..

in my world.. SEEING IS LEARNING ...

good luck ...

ken

PS: you should also be researching IPM .. integrated pest management .. as apples require 3 to 5 sprayings during the growing year.. so as to grow a perfect fruit ... and in this system.. timing is IMPERATIVE ... and that is one of the reasons.. i gave up on home grown fruit ... though it was fun to experiment ...