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California Gardening Fruit & Orchards Garden

When/How to prune apple trees after heat damage?

7 years ago

I had significant damage from excessive heat (or insufficient water!) to some of my apple trees last summer.LA area..I have not removed the dead material yet..How close to this year's new growth should I be pruning? It seems that whatever is still living has already leafed out by now..Thanks much.

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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
7 years ago
Apple trees are the most prune-able fruit tree ever. This is because their mechanism for healing wounds (cuts) is outstandingly effective. A commercial apple grower told me that. Prune away. Rig temporary shade if you need to, if we get another 117F heat wave like we did last year. Let's hope we don't.

The opposite of the apple for pruning cuts is the peach. Cuts ooze, ooze, ooze sap and rarely heal properly. A commercial peach orchard lasts 8 or 10 years. Apples can last many decades because of their healing ability.
peteramu thanked hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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