Pruning Apple Trees
Periodical pruning of apple trees is important to promote more fruit bearing growths, and therefore more fruit. There are two pruning seasons for apples. These seasons are summer and winter.
Pruning of apple trees in the summer and winter have different results on the nature of the apple tree’s future gain primarily in the first season after pruning apple trees.
So, it is for all these reasons that pruning of apple trees is important. But, sometimes even pruning of the trees do not yield good results. It is for the simple reason that pruning was not done in a proper manner. So, in order to get good yield of fruits it is necessary that pruning must be carried out in a proper manner.
We also have to understand that it’s a proven fact that the ‘pruning process’ dwarfs trees, it reduces the total size of the tree. Let me explain that a bit better. The food-manufacturing mechanism of a tree is in its leaves.
The first pruning should occur immediately after planting (normally November or December) – make sure you know if you have a one or two year old tree. The examples below show pruning starting at a one year old tree.
Pruning apple trees starting from it’s first year of planting is nessesary and if done correctly, will have long term advantages over apple trees.
Remove The Dead Wood
The next step is to remove all the dead old wood on your tree. You can even out the entire branch if does not have any bud. In case, your branch has a bud facing towards the branch base then make the cut in the outward direction making pruning apple trees.
Always use sharp and clean tools to make as clean a cut as possible. Blunt tools that crush the stems leaving jagged edges increase the risk of infection or injury.
Always cut above a leaf or above a leaf join that is facing outward from the tree to encourage growth out from the center of the tree. Otherwise, you will just have to cut the growth out again the next time you prune.
Cut on a 45 degree angle to encourage rainwater to drip off the branch instead of sitting on it and potentially rotting the tree.
If you are tackling a large tree, use a pruning saw, a pair of step ladders supported at the base, and if possible have someone support the branches you are cutting back to reduce the chances of falling branches damaging the rest of the tree, or causing injury.
Realy important is timing of pruning apple trees. In case the summer pruning is done to early, then developing fruit buds can start into growth when they should be dormant. These buds will not develop fully, and be lost for the following year. Late month August is a proper time for all kind of summer pruning, and definitely not earlier than the start of the month August. Therefore don’t forget the since of
