- Is Pruning Apple Trees Similar to Pruning Other Fruit Trees?<\/a><\/li>
- How Your Apple Tree Grows and Produces Fruit<\/a><\/li>
- How to Prune an Apple Tree<\/a><\/li>
- When to Prune<\/a><\/li>
- Why You Need to Prune<\/a><\/li>
- Tips for Effective Apple Tree Pruning<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Is Pruning Apple Trees Similar to Pruning Other Fruit Trees?<\/h2>
There are mixed opinions on whether pruning an apple tree is similar to pruning other fruit trees. Peach and nectarine trees produce fruit only on growth from the previous season, so they need a lot of pruning. Apple trees and pears produce fruit on long-lived branches called fruiting spurs, so they need less work. Other fruit trees fall between these two extremes.<\/p>
So we\u2019ll focus solely on apple trees today, but you can use the same general idea on pear trees if you have them in your yard. The tips in this apple tree pruning guide will help you to know when and how to prune apple trees for the most abundant crop of apples.<\/p>
How Your Apple Tree Grows and Produces Fruit<\/h2>
To start with, understanding how an apple tree grows and produces fruit will help you understand the apple pruning process. Apple trees put on new growth every year, meaning new shoots will develop and grow. Existing branches add new growth, too. To find the new growth<\/strong>, look for a ring or band of tissue<\/a> that completely encircles the shoot. <\/p>
It\u2019s important to be able to spot where the new growth is when it comes to pruning. Your tree will also create new flower buds in the season prior to blooming. In summer, it creates flower buds that will open up the following spring. <\/p>
The flower buds develop at the tips of short shoots and on spurs<\/a> (short thick growths on branches) in apple trees. Flower buds are more round in shape and swollen at the base compared to buds (vegetative or leaf buds) that develop into leaves. <\/p>
- Buds that develop along the length of a shoot<\/strong> rarely develop into flowers.<\/li>
- They may grow into spurs that develop flower buds<\/strong> the following year if they aren\u2019t pruned incorrectly and triggered to develop new shoots.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/rsz_amanda-and-apple-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Author Amanda Shiffler holds one of the apples from her tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure> How to Prune an Apple Tree<\/h2>
I think it\u2019s safe to say that very few people like thinning their vegetable gardens or pruning their fruit trees. It seems counterintuitive to remove a plant or part of a plant that is growing well, but when done correctly, a properly pruned apple tree produces better fruit. <\/p>
So let\u2019s talk a bit more in-depth about how to prune, why you need to prune, and tips for a perfectly pruned apple tree. The how-to part of pruning includes:<\/p>
- Pruning tools you\u2019ll need<\/strong> for pruning an apple tree <\/li>
- How to clean your tools and keep them clean<\/strong><\/li>
- Apple tree pruning in eight steps<\/strong><\/li>
- And three basic tree shapes <\/strong>so you can get started<\/li> <\/ul>
Pruning Tools You\u2019ll Need<\/h3>
A mature apple tree will have various sizes of branches, so you will need a couple of different tools to get the job done efficiently:<\/p>
- Pruners:<\/strong> Also known as hand pruners or pruning shears<\/a>, they are small enough to fit comfortably in your hand. Pruners work well for easy-to-reach, small branches and come in two different pruning tools: bypass and anvil. Bypass pruners are better for cutting live branches; anvil pruners are best for dead branches.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Loppers:<\/strong> A good pair of loppers will cut through small to medium-sized branches. Long handles allow you to reach higher branches, plus they provide more cutting leverage for thicker cuts. Like pruners, they are available as bypass or anvil loppers.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Saw:<\/strong> This is a must-have for larger branches. It is recommended to use a saw for anything larger in diameter than your thumb, but I\u2019ll admit I use my loppers for branches up to about 1 inch in diameter.<\/li> <\/ul>
It\u2019s important to keep your tools sharp and clean when you are pruning fruit trees or any tree for that matter. Sharp tools result in cuts that quickly go through branches or stems without leaving a jagged, rough edge where the cut is made.<\/p>
How to Clean Your Tools and Keep Them Clean<\/h3>
Before you start pruning, dip the cutting surfaces of pruners and loppers in isopropyl alcohol<\/em> and allow them to air dry, disinfecting the metal. Dampen a clean cloth with isopropyl alcohol and carefully wipe your saw blade. This prevents the transfer and cross-contamination of any fungal or disease problems that may have been picked up from other plants\/trees in your yard.<\/p>
When you\u2019re done for the day, carefully wipe off the sawdust and tree sap with a rag. Squirt a small amount of solvent on moving parts to keep them lubricated and free of rust.<\/p>
Apple Tree Pruning in Eight Steps<\/h3>
How do you prune an apple tree correctly? Well, pruning isn\u2019t a quick process. It can take a lot of work, depending on the scope of the project and the current state of your apple tree. The basic logic behind it is simple, though: Remove all dead branches, create the overall shape you desire, make detailed cuts to open up the interior canopy, and then finish with a basic trim.<\/p>
- Assess your tree\u2019s size and shape,<\/strong> paying careful attention to crowded or dead branches and limbs that are taller or longer than you want. This helps you decide what needs to be pruned and what cuts need to be made.<\/li>
- Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first.<\/strong> Remove with a thinning cut<\/a> if the entire branch is dead. If the tip is dead, remove the dead wood with a heading cut just above a side branch.<\/li>
- Remove any new growth coming from the base of the trunk;<\/strong> these \u201csuckers\u201d originate from the rootstock instead of the fruiting variety that has been grafted on the upper part of the tree.<\/li>
- Fix the overall size and shape.<\/strong> Remove branches too tall\/long with thinning cuts or shorten them with heading cuts. This means the terminal branch(es) at the top of the tree, as well as the scaffolding branches that come out from the central leader.<\/li>
- Open up the canopy through the center of the tree. <\/strong>The main branches need sufficient room for their lateral branches, and sunlight needs to access the interior and lower branches of the tree.<\/li>
- Remove branches too close to one another<\/strong> or those growing back into the center of the tree with a thinning cut. Remove any branches growing toward the center of the tree with a thinning cut.<\/li>
- Give the tree a haircut.<\/strong> Known as heading back, this encourages branches to grow shorter and thicker, as well as triggering lower growth in the canopy. It keeps your apple tree branches from continuing to grow upward and outward. Remember to be moderate and cut above a point where buds are growing away (outward) from the tree. (See video below.)<\/li>
- Remove 20-30 percent of the active growth from last year<\/strong> using thinning cuts. It\u2019s important to locate where the new growth starts. Prune the branches back to about one-quarter inch above an outward-facing bud to prevent new branches from growing into the center of the tree.<\/li> <\/ol>
Here\u2019s how to prune apple trees according to the experts.<\/p>
- Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first.<\/strong> Remove with a thinning cut<\/a> if the entire branch is dead. If the tip is dead, remove the dead wood with a heading cut just above a side branch.<\/li>
- Assess your tree\u2019s size and shape,<\/strong> paying careful attention to crowded or dead branches and limbs that are taller or longer than you want. This helps you decide what needs to be pruned and what cuts need to be made.<\/li>
- Saw:<\/strong> This is a must-have for larger branches. It is recommended to use a saw for anything larger in diameter than your thumb, but I\u2019ll admit I use my loppers for branches up to about 1 inch in diameter.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Loppers:<\/strong> A good pair of loppers will cut through small to medium-sized branches. Long handles allow you to reach higher branches, plus they provide more cutting leverage for thicker cuts. Like pruners, they are available as bypass or anvil loppers.<\/li> <\/ul>
- How to clean your tools and keep them clean<\/strong><\/li>
- They may grow into spurs that develop flower buds<\/strong> the following year if they aren\u2019t pruned incorrectly and triggered to develop new shoots.<\/li> <\/ul>
- How Your Apple Tree Grows and Produces Fruit<\/a><\/li>