GIVE APPLE TREES A PRUNE

An annual cut back keeps them in good condition and fruiting

To keep apple trees healthy, fruiting and to a manageable size you need to prune them, and winter pruning can start as soon as the leaves fall off in late autumn.

Pruning during the dormant season is to remove any overcrowded growth, weak or crossing stems and to reduce tall, vertical stems that, if allowed to carry on growing, would soon make the trees too tall. The end result should be a tree that has a good open shape with a mix of old wood that forms the main structure of the tree and younger wood that flowers and fruits. To achieve this, ideally some pruning should be done every year, even if only cu ing out a few branches or shortening some others. This annual pruning really does help to keep the tree in good condition and, more importantly, it keeps it fruiting each year. Firstly look within the main canopy and cut out any weak stems growing into the centre or rubbing against each other. Any damaged stems should also be cut back to a sideshoot, making a clean cut. Then remove

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vertical stems by cu ing back to Finally, reduce the height

a sideways-growing stem. This of long, vertical growth

reduces the height, and it’s on back to a sideshoot if

sideways-growing wood that you possible or by two-thirds.

get more blossom and fruit.