Why Pruning Your Apple Tree in Winter is Essential
Winter is the ideal time to prune your apple trees as it helps promote better quality fruit, maintaining its shape, and preventing apple tree diseases.
By thinning out some of the branches, the plant's energy will be focused on fewer apples, resulting in better fruit. This method will improve air circulation through the centre of the tree, limiting pest and disease problems.
When to prune
Pruning any time between November and early March, when the trees are leafless, allows you to see the branch structure clearly.
Start with removing the 3 D’s - any dead, damaged, or disease branches - this will look like a sore and its called canker.
Removing small branches like this image is worth while to encourage the tree to focus on formation of strong, healthy regrowth especially for old trees.
What to prune
Identify the previous year’s shoots by tracing down from the tips to find the growing point.
Shorten these stems to around half their length, cutting just above an outward-facing bud.
Remember that once the tree is more mature you’ll want to give it an open structure to maintain good air circulation, so remove any inward-growing branches.
What tools do you need?
Pruning tools secateurs and saws should be sharp and clean, as this will reduce the risk of spreading disease and help wounds seal over faster.
Clean your tools with rubbing alcohol, or a general sterilant like Jeyes fluid.
How much to take off?
If your tree is overgrown, it’s better to stagger pruning over several years, rather than removing it all in one go, to prevent overproduction of water shoots.
Water shoots a stress response to pruning. They are vertical branches that won’t fruit - branches need to be horizontal for the tree to fruit.
If in doubt, leave pruning the branch until next winter.
Comments