Help pruning apple tree?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I planted this at my friend's house many years ago and it was supposed to be a Prairifire flowering crab tree, but it's actually a really good-tasting apple!!! It was a bad location for planting and it suffered snow damage the first few years... over the years I've trimmed limbs back as needed for mowing and such, removed crossing branches and limbs that obviously don't belong where they are. I'm wondering if I dare trying to remove some of the larger limbs inside the tree to open it up? I'm afraid it will look crappy, because unfortunately it is in a front yard. :p The tree seems to lack a leader -- probably from snow damage the first few winters. wwyd with it?

ETA: Also wondering, is it generally ok to trim back all limbs to try to keep the tree smaller?

Featured Answer

David Taylor

8 years ago

summersrhythm_z6a, you can prune any time. Late winter is ideal. I just pruned my trees last week on a relatively warm, no wind day. Feel free to lop the top 1/3 of each tree off if they are too high. You can do the same in successive years if necessary. But don't go more than 1/3 of the total wood or the tree(s) could find it difficult to recover and could die.

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Comments (9)

Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
9 years ago
Sure...you can cut major limbs off and let a couple branches on for nursing.

The only problem then is, you'll end up with tons of new water sprouts...a vicious cycle, you'll end up pruning more for several years...if it was mine, open it up to get light in, cut some upward growth, cut back a little...should be pruned every year.
party_music50
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Konrad! Weird, but I've only had water sprouts on one of my peach trees and I hadn't pruned it at all! at least they're obvious and easy to remove. :)
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summersrhythm_z6a
8 years ago
How early can I prune fruit trees this year? We purchased a property that has 11 fruit trees, I think they're apple, pear and peach trees. This weekend the temp will be in the 40's, can I prune them? The trees haven't been cared for years, they're huge, I think I need to cut down the tops, make them shorter.
summersrhythm_z6a
8 years ago
Thanks for the tip David. Will give it a try, 1st time prune fruit trees. :-)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
I'm wondering if I dare trying to remove some of the larger limbs
inside the tree to open it up? I'm afraid it will look crappy, because
unfortunately it is in a front yard. :p

==>> isnt this the classic conundrum between a fruit production tree versus a landscape aesthetic ...???

you cant have it both ways ....

ken
party_music50
Original Author
8 years ago
As I said, ken, I was supposed to get a flowering crab... Once it bloomed and fruited I knew it was actually an apple tree.
ravenh2001
8 years ago
I have a flowering wild apple. I try to kill it every year but wife wont let me. I have cut it from 40 feet to twelve feet. Made it look like a october decoration , no help. It has scab, tent catipls. and black knot it just won't die. I will say it grows faster,(6' -10') year. same spray and care. 10-20 thousand apples yearly that are to small to peal for jelly. Ie. bought nickel size but are sweet.

'
ravenh2001
8 years ago
should have been about I have to just look at keys to type. My bad.