Apple Tree Pruning Guide for Beginners

Summer pruning of apple trees is far more beneficial than it seems at first glance. Without this procedure, the trees become wild, and the fruit loses its quality, as the dense crown impedes ventilation and sunlight penetration.

The result of pruning

In summer, excess and fruiting shoots are clearly visible on the crown. Properly performed formative pruning will curb the growth of excess branches and stimulate the formation of new buds. Forming the crown allows for the appropriate use of fertilizers. These apple trees ensure that all the fruit has sufficient fresh air and light, which positively impacts their flavor. By removing fast-growing shoots that are not capable of bearing fruit, fruiting branches will receive the full supply of nutrients. Summer pruning also offers several other advantages:

• development of immunity by trees to various diseases;
• increasing resistance to attacks by harmful insects that reduce crop yields;
• facilitating the apple harvesting process.

Properly pruned shoots on a young apple tree can speed up the onset of fruiting. A newly planted tree devotes all its energy to branch growth, significantly delaying the appearance of the first fruits. Often, in the summer, while pruning apple trees, gardeners bend and horizontally secure shoots to stimulate the formation of flowering branches.

The downside of summer pruning is the high risk of infection by all sorts of infections and fungi, as fresh cuts make it easier for them to penetrate the tree tissue. The same applies to harmful insects.

Deadlines

The first pruning is performed when the shoots reach a length of 20 cm; in this case, competing shoots formed on the skeletal branches are removed. The optimal time for summer pruning of apple trees is June.At this time, large shoots that have grown since autumn are removed. This results in about 1 meter of apple tree height being cut back to ensure nutrients reach the fruit and support their development.

It is not recommended to carry out the event on a hot or rainy day. In the first case, the trees will recover poorly from stress, and in the second, the rain will wash away the applied cut protective layer.

This summer procedure serves both sanitary and preventative purposes. Damaged or diseased branches that weren't removed in the fall and spring can be pruned in the summer. At this time of year, apple trees are inspected for suckers so that they can be pinched promptly to prevent them from growing too fast.

Necessary tool

Apple tree pruning can be done using the following tools:

• pruning shears – ideal for removing shoots up to 2 cm thick;
• lopper – characterized by high strength;
• a knife with a sharp blade – in some cases used instead of pruning shears;
• garden saw – for cutting thick and large branches;
• fine-toothed hacksaw.

Trimming diagram

Pruning of young trees (up to 5 years old) and old trees (after 5 years) is carried out according to different principles.

For young apple trees

The main purpose of pruning young trees is to shape their crown. This process involves removing a small number of branches. If done correctly, apple trees begin bearing fruit within a year.

Young apple trees grow vigorously, necessitating periodic pruning of excess branches. A properly formed crown is the key to a good, high-quality harvest, delighting the gardener year after year.

To achieve the desired result during the procedure, you need to follow several rules:

1. Monitor the length of shoots located in the center and on the sides. Trim branches extending beyond the main trunk as needed.
2. For a one-year-old seedling, leave no more than 4 skeletal branches, and if repeating the procedure, 5 shoots.
3. Shorten the central shoot in the first year of the apple tree’s life and leave it alone for the next two years.

Young apple trees produce numerous blossoms; to reduce the strain on the tree, some of these are removed. If the crown becomes overly dense, blocking light from reaching the fruit and delaying its ripening, a small number of branches are pruned.

For old apple trees

The main goal of summer pruning of mature trees is to achieve a rejuvenating effect, which directs all the plant's energy toward the formation of new shoots. The following factors will indicate the need for pruning:

• loss of taste of fruits;
• decrease in crop yield;
• lack of development in young branches.

Pruning of old trees is carried out according to the following principle:

• removal of fatty branches and those growing at an acute angle;
• getting rid of the growth that appeared in previous years.

Operation algorithm:

• 4 buds are removed from ½ of the branches;
• young shoots are cut off (up to a large bud);
• when fruiting decreases, branches are removed from the center of the tree;
• cut off the growth of the past 3 years;
• thin out the dense crown, removing excess branches.

 

For columnar apple trees

Summer pruning of columnar apple trees removes young shoots growing from the central core. This mass robs the tree of a significant portion of its nutrients.

Removing excess growth in itself is completely harmless to the tree, but minor damage left on the bark can cause disease.

In general, pruning carried out in summer is called pinching, since the work does not require gardening tools, and the procedure itself is carried out throughout the summer season.

For dwarf apple trees

These small apple trees are known for their high yields, and the shorter the tree, the more fruit it produces. The large number of fruits puts enormous stress on the branches, causing them to sag, leading to weakening and disease. In this case, the fruits become small, wormy, and lose their original flavor.

This problem can be prevented by thinning the ovaries, which will reduce the tree's production and reduce the load on the branches. June is a good time for this, as this is when excess ovaries wilt and fall off on their own. When thinning, keep a few rules in mind:

• It is not permissible to break off the ovaries, it is enough to simply shake the branches;
• Excessive number of ovaries can be thinned out using scissors.

Comparison of schemes

Summer pruning of a young apple tree occurs according to the following scheme:

• eliminate almost all fattening growth;
• the growing shoots are left at a distance of 14–35 cm from each other; in the future, they will become the basis of the fruiting section of the crown;
• When the tree reaches a height of 4 m, the central conductor of this height is cut off, and weedy branches are also removed.

Algorithm for pruning old apple trees:

• remove all branches damaged by pests and drying out, including frame branches;
• shorten the upper part of the trunk to the first new strong branching, which promotes the rejuvenation of the apple tree;
• get rid of all overlapping and broken branches.

The procedure for summer pruning of columnar apple trees is as follows:

• remove the shoot that bore fruit abundantly the year before, leaving at least two lower shoots on it;
• the tops of the remaining branches are pinched by 5–7 cm;
• excess and weak branches are cut off "to the ring".

The principles of summer pruning are determined by the age and varietal characteristics of the apple tree.

Rules for care after pruning

After pruning, the apple tree needs to be stimulated to grow, which will speed up its recovery. Spraying the tree's foliage with mineral fertilizer is sufficient. Additionally, the area around the tree trunk should be watered with plenty of clean water. For a mature tree, the application rate is up to 100 liters per 1 m.², for a young person – 50–60 liters.

To prevent the penetration and development of fungi and bacteria in the wood, the cuts are treated garden pitchAn alternative to this remedy may be:

• oil and water-based paints (solvent-free);
• balsam bark;
• a lump of earth moistened with water, etc.