my neighbor asked me to prune 2 apple trees in his back yard that have become very tall and overgrown over the years. he wants to cut them down to a more managable height since they block alot of view and such, any dos and donts about doing this thats particular to apple trees?
pruning overgrown apple trees
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TravisL
ArboristSite Member
you dont take them back too much now. Your probably alot better off to wait till dormancy season and even then dont take more than a third off the tree. As for pruning now, just take off some of the new growth, and dead stuff, but dont wait to long or the trees wont heal properly before to cold, so try to get it dont by the end of august at the very latest. Depending on the size of the trees the whole process can take as much as three or four years to get them where you want them. Do you know what kind of apples they are? Does he want fruit production or just a better view? Those are very important questions when deciding what to prune. where in CT are you? Maybe I can take a look at them with you.
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Kate Butler
ArboristSite Guru
Recent research suggests that apples bear sooner and with fewer water sprouts if they are pruned in July than if pruned when dormant (in winter).
I can't cite the research - this info came from 3 apple experts in my area.
It's also a lot easier to see what's truly dead (an not merely dormant) when there are leaves on the trees.
Deadwood first, then crossed or rubbing branches, then for shape.
I can't cite the research - this info came from 3 apple experts in my area.
It's also a lot easier to see what's truly dead (an not merely dormant) when there are leaves on the trees.
Deadwood first, then crossed or rubbing branches, then for shape.
TravisL
ArboristSite Member
actually most southern orchards prune after they pick, and have show the best results with that method, but again the new england cold prevents proper healing that late in the game.
A general rule of thumb for trees sealing after wounding is to cut when they are actively growing, hence the recommendation for earlier in the year pruning.
Kate is correct on trees will sprout less if pruned in the summer as most of their vigorous growth has been put on in the spring and they are slowing down. So this is what we recommend when people want to minimize grow back.
Deadwood or removing weak limbs...any time, and again I agree with Kate in that it is far easier to see when there are leaves on the trees. Which translates to faster work, and generally cheaper for the client.
We always tell people there are 3 kinds of trees, angiosperms, gymnosperms....and fruit trees. In our books, they are kind of out there on their own. We generally prune them in Jan/Feb but you can prune them any time....depending on your goal.
I would be reticent to do a harsh reduction in the heat of the summer. You also need to be aware of any diseases that may be transmittable during the growing season that would be less problematical in the dormant season.
Another side note on working on apple trees during the growing season.
They are a hellacious mess to clean up!!! We have ended up with a chipper completedly clogged with apple mash. And you have to be careful where you dump the chips because every critter in the neighborhood is going to be there munching away. Probably not so bad unless you live in bear country...so for us, not so good.
Posting pictures would allow us to help more specifically.
Sylvia
Kate is correct on trees will sprout less if pruned in the summer as most of their vigorous growth has been put on in the spring and they are slowing down. So this is what we recommend when people want to minimize grow back.
Deadwood or removing weak limbs...any time, and again I agree with Kate in that it is far easier to see when there are leaves on the trees. Which translates to faster work, and generally cheaper for the client.
We always tell people there are 3 kinds of trees, angiosperms, gymnosperms....and fruit trees. In our books, they are kind of out there on their own. We generally prune them in Jan/Feb but you can prune them any time....depending on your goal.
I would be reticent to do a harsh reduction in the heat of the summer. You also need to be aware of any diseases that may be transmittable during the growing season that would be less problematical in the dormant season.
Another side note on working on apple trees during the growing season.
They are a hellacious mess to clean up!!! We have ended up with a chipper completedly clogged with apple mash. And you have to be careful where you dump the chips because every critter in the neighborhood is going to be there munching away. Probably not so bad unless you live in bear country...so for us, not so good.
Posting pictures would allow us to help more specifically.
Sylvia
Kate Butler
ArboristSite Guru
Another side note on working on apple trees during the growing season.
They are a hellacious mess to clean
Ditto that. I've just bought a bigger chipper to do the cleanup on a couple of small orchards
They are a hellacious mess to clean
Ditto that. I've just bought a bigger chipper to do the cleanup on a couple of small orchards
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