How much to take when pruning old apple?

9 years ago

Hi! I'm loving this forum! I thought I had started a post about this old apple tree, but I cannot find it, so...

Long ago I planted what was supposed to be a flowering crabapple in the front lawn of my friend's house... I know it's ugly... it suffered lots of winter damage the first several years (exceptionally bad winters!). Once it flowered I knew it wasn't what I had ordered... and not long after I knew it was a great apple tree! Any "pruning" was pretty much handled by mother nature -- other than branches that obscured the driveway view. It obviously needs pruning and shaping.

We tackled some pruning yesterday... there are some stubs because we couldn't get the saw close enough. We did the best we could -- just trying to remove inward-growing branches to open it up. :p Here's what we now have from two slightly different angles, can't seem to get a clear shot from any direction. I keep reading not to take too much at once when a tree requires a lot of pruning, so I'm wondering if we have removed enough for now? (I do still see some small upper branches growing inward that we'll try to get). The lowest branches are around 5' off the ground. I've been trying to keep them because they're easiest for picking. lol!

This is basically the pile of what we removed. Is it enough for now? Should we wait until next year to do more pruning when dormant, or continue w/ summer pruning? I'm also not clear on whether or not you're supposed to 'tip' all of the branches on an apple tree to control height/size... can anyone elaborate? Help? :)

Featured Answer

ylwjacket

9 years ago

this winter I am going to have to summon the courage to do a job like that on my apple tree. I didn't have the guts this year, but I have 8 months to man up.

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Comments (6)

Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
9 years ago
Looks allot better...yes, I would cut the long branches back about 3 feet to the nearest downward side branch...and perhaps that side branch a few inches if its long.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
You never want to remove more than 1/3 of the canopy at any given pruning session. And it looks like you are within that limit :-) You can always do a bit more pruning in late summer or again next winter.
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ma_delgobbo
9 years ago
I think you could do a bit more, but it looks like it's in pretty good shape. Usually we don't tip apples because many spurs are towards the tips of new growth, also that wouldn't control size on a mature tree it actually invigorates it. The main focus for you is just thinning and if it's too tall you could reduce height by removing some larger branches to a weaker leader to slow down upward growth. But for a tree that's gone without training it's looking pretty good!
party_music50
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you all!

Konrad, it really does look better... poor thing. :) It would look better still as the flowering crab it was meant to be. lol! I'm looking it over to find a way to shape it better, and if we can get to it, clipping 3' off the longest limbs should help a lot.

gardengal, great to know! I'm apprehensive because I've read about the dreaded suckers that come from hard pruning. :p

ma_deigobbo, wonderful info! re thinning, just taking out what we have has made a huge difference in how 'light and airy' the tree appears.

We knew we still had some trimming to do and thanks to all of you I feel much better about the direction I'm going. I very much appreciate your responses!
party_music50
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We tackled the tree again today... removing portions of 3 of the oldest/tallest branches. I think we've removed about 1/4 - 1/3 of the total canopy at this point, but we haven't tipped anything. Are we doing ok? should we stop at this point? The top does look much more in proportion to the trunk now. lol!