In a good orchard be sure to eat apples. And to get beautiful large and tasty apples, you need to grow them correctly.: fertilize the soil, clean it from weeds, dig in and regularly water the plant, cut it in time.

Let's talk about the subtleties and some nuances of correctly performing pruning of an apple tree and the formation of a beautiful healthy tree.

When is it necessary to prune an apple tree and what is it for?

Apple tree is considered one of the most resistant among garden crops. Pruning is carried out from the beginning of the warm season, the end of February and until May, in the period of relative rest of the tree, when there is no threat of severe frost.. Of course, you need to take into account the local climatic conditions of the region. Pruning is possible up to the flowering period, the main thing is to carry it out, observing strictly all requirements.

Apple pruning carried out:

• Spring before bud break to improve the condition of the tree and its fertility;
• During the summer anti-aging “pruning without a knife” is used: pinching of shoots and breaking, bending, etc .;
• In the autumn after falling leaves.

Be sure to take into account the individual characteristics of the development of individual varieties.

What tasks does tree trimming do?

• For a young tree (5-7 years) the formation of its crown and the rationing of the future harvest;
• For an adult conditions are created for good crown illumination and sufficient nutrition for potentially productive high-quality plots;
• Sanitary pruning for cleansing from damaged and diseased branches is carried out at any age.

The advantages of spring trimming

Which period is most appropriate for pruning is determined by the paramount immediate utility for the plant.

In the spring, trees are easier to tolerate various operations, which will contribute to the sap flow of the apple. And the gardener has enough time to perform the entire procedure with high quality and neat.

In the autumn, cutting branches provokes the beginning of growth, and this falls on the period when the tree is about to fall asleep. Such actions can significantly weaken it. During the fall of the leaves (except for the southern warm regions) there is a high probability of a sharp decrease in temperature. If pruning is done on the eve of frost, it can lead to the appearance of wounds in the places of processing wood.

Removal of unwanted branches in young apple trees begin before the buds swell. From spring to early summer, you can work out a columnar apple tree.

After wintering, be sure to pay attention to the removal of frostbitten, dry, broken branches, both on young and adult apples, forming a good and healthy crown.

The benefits of pruning in the fall

Many have doubts about the autumn correction of trees. So, of course the apple trees are pruned in the fall.And it is advisable only with a solid approach and knowledge of the matter.

When performing this procedure in the fall, you must take into account the weather conditions. Do it on warm sunny days, then the tree will take it better.

Avoid pruning when it rains cold and overcast. This creates prerequisites for diseases of the trunks and branches because of the multitude of all kinds of microbes that are on them.

On adult and old trees they cut off inanimate, weak, too heavy side branches, thin out the crown. The shoots, crouched to the ground, are left, the young branches that are too stretched up are cut as far as possible.

The following types of pruning of apple trees are used:

• Sanitary. Mostly on old trees, dried and damaged branches with signs of disease are removed;
• Formative. Produced in young trees to create a well-groomed crown (with an interval of 4-5 years);
• Structural. Removed branches that touch others, intersect with them, interfere with, grow incorrectly or impede the growth of neighboring trees;
• Rejuvenating. It is carried out for old, poorly productive trees, it is carried out once in 4 years.

How to prune an apple tree by yourself?

This question is asked and experts and beginners. And newbies are also afraid to start doing this on their own. But no need to be afraid. After reviewing the basic rules, having talked with familiar gardeners, it’s best to see how they do it on their lot. Pruning on your first tree under the supervision of an experienced expert will give you confidence. Then capture the excitement and interest. And you will do your own pruning and share your experience.

And start with the basic principles and techniques of pruning apple crown:

• Have strong-growing apple leave 75 cm shtamba (main trunk);
• In low growth - 55 cm. Above the trunk, 6-7 buds are left, and the apex.

Be sure to consider the features of trimming a separate grade!

Apple tree pruning scheme

a - at the main shoot strong growth, and lateral branches grew weakly; b - at lateral branches strong growth and weak at the main shoot; in - if necessary, replace the main shoots side; d - if necessary, shorten the competitor branch

There are several forms of apple crown, which are most common:

• Sparse-tiered form. On a seedling, all branches except 4-6 skeletal ones are cut, between which there should be at least 30-40 cm.
• Medium shtambovaya form. At the initial stage of sapling development, all branches that are at a height below 1 m from the ground surface should be cut off. Everything that remains higher grows independently.

Pruning an old apple tree  

In those cases when it is necessary to restore and update old apple trees, all work is carried out only with a healthy tree, which has strong basic skeletal branches. This is done in stages, over several years. In spring, when the shape of the tree is clearly visible, it is especially convenient to visually correct the actions.. Moreover, at this time the whole procedure is accepted favorably by the tree.

In relation to diseased trees. Here, make your own choice: first cure, then pruned, or replace them with new trees.

First year they cut the largest excess branches: the sick, intertwined, those that interfere with and make unnecessary deformations, with bare bark.

Second or third year the center of the crown itself opens, removing the top of the main trunk at a height of 2.5 m. The tops from the previous pruning are trimmed, leaving several that grow upwards, from which new shoots are formed.

Trimming technique

The tools that you use when cutting trees (pruners, delimbers, garden knives, saws, etc.) must be clean and well sharpened. If you cut sore branches, before you go to healthy, you need to disinfect the tool.

1. The branches are removed as close as possible to the trunk., leaving no hemp from the slice, even the youngest.
2. Large branches are first shortenedand then cut off completely. If using a saw, first make an incision from the bottom to avoid injury to the bark at the base. After that, the branch is cut from the top.
3. Cutting places should be treated with garden var or oil paint. on the 2nd day. Do not use enamel and nitro paints.

All main branches should be placed evenly around the center conductor, which must be left 25 cm higher than the other branches.

How to prune a column-shaped apple tree?

Column-shaped apple trees do not have crowns and are compactly located on the site.. Their pruning raises the most questions because of its features. The prevailing view is that the most suitable time for this is spring or early summer. I suggest you opt for one of the following options.

First option

• For the 2nd year pinch the tops of the young branches that have a length of more than 30 cm. The uppermost shoot cannot be cut off.
• On the 3rd year shorten the lateral branches to 40 cm, and pin the upper shoot 25 cm from the central trunk.
• On the 4th year remove all the branches that grow abnormally intertwined and weak.

And what about the crown shoot, which is especially susceptible to freezing in the winter? It is necessary to choose the strongest in the spring. Choose the strongest from the top young branches.and cut the rest into two buds.

Second option

You have a small area, and you want to form a beautiful and strict column of trees in a small area?

Means it is necessary to cut all lateral shoots into two buds annually. Let them grow freely by removing dry, damaged and intertwining branches.

How to prune a dwarf apple tree?

When you start pruning such apple trees, remember that your task is to let it grow in breadth, not up.

In the first year of life, seedlings grow very quickly.. But after the fruiting period comes, the growth diminishes. Further growth is strongly pruned during fruiting, which is good for the size of the fruit.

• In the spring of an annual tree cut at 50cm from the soil and cover up the cut with garden pitch.
• Next spring side branches shorten to the second bud, and the central shoot is shortened by a quarter.
• Next year remove completely the branches that grow down and deep into the crown, and the main shoot and side branches - by 20 cm. You should strive to form a rounded small crown.

Formation of the crown of dwarf apple trees is usually carried out for the first 2-3 years. But it all depends on how your apple tree develops.

Learn the basic rules and techniques. And yet remember that tree pruning is a creative and very interesting thing. I have had a gardener's experience for more than twenty years, my neighbor has even more, but when I finish pruning my trees, a neighbor always has comments and suggestions. Such creativity.