If you are looking to find our how and when to prune apple trees, you've come to the right place. It can seem like one of those gardening jobs that requires a lot of expertise - one that we keep putting off because we aren't confident to tackle it. Well, we hope our guide on how to prune an apple tree will help put those concerns top bed - so you can get out there and get it sorted!
We'll cover everything you need to know about pruning apple trees; why it's important, when to prune apple trees and a step-by-step guide on how to do it. By the time you have finished reading this, you will be an apple tree expert!
Why prune apple trees?
The main aim of pruning apple trees, or any fruit trees for that matter, is to improve its overall health. You want to target the dead or diseased wood, anything damaged in any way, which will mean the tree will stop wasting energy on these areas on the tree, and instead direct it all where it needs it - on fresh healthy growth - branches, shoots, fruit and root growth.
There are other reasons to prune apple and pear trees though - through apple tree pruning you can create the perfect shape for your tree, allow more sunlight to reach the fruit buds, improve the air circulation within the tree (this can help keep any pests under control), and it also encourages growth of fruit. There are plenty of benefits!
When to prune apple trees
We've split this into three different sections, to help you see when the best time to prune apple trees is, and why some times of the year are not suitable for apple tree pruning. We'll kick things off with Winter pruning.
Winter pruning
Winter is the ideal time to prune fruit trees. At this time of year, the tree will be dormant, and so pruning it will cause it less stress, and it will be able to focus all of it's energy on healing after the pruning, rather than growing. So in the long term, you will get much healthier newly growth. You'll also be able to inspect the branches better at this time of year, with no fruit or leaves to contend with when you winter prune apples and pears.
In the UK, the best months are between November and early March. There won't be a great deal going on in your garden during those months, so this is a nice job to save up for when the weather isn't too bad during those months. If you have a newly planted tree, you will still need to prune in winter, but how much to prune will depend on its age.
Spring & Summer pruning
While it is possible to prune apple trees from the early Spring to the Summer, this is only really recommended for trained apple trees, like fans, cordons or espaliers, so that you can get more light to the fruit. The best time to do this is between late July to mid August.
Autumn pruning
It's never a good idea to prune your apple tree in the Autumn. You tree will have worked hard to produce fruit, and will just be preparing to return to dormancy - the last thing you want to do is stress it out and encourage branching and new shoots at this stage.
What do I need to prune apple trees?
In order to do any job well, you're going to need the right tools. Here is what you'll need for apple tree pruning:
- Comfortable gloves: It's likely to be cold, and you are using sharp tools, so make sure you are wearing some comfy gloves.
- Sharp secateurs: The better quality, the easier the job. If you need any new pruning tools, we can help you out.
- Pruning saw: You may need to use a saw to cut through large branches
- Ladder: Make sure you have someone to hold it for you. Try using a lopper before you resort to the ladder.
How to prune an apple tree
We're going to split this into two sections, as winter pruning and summer pruning is quite different.
How to prune an apple tree in Winter
Step 1: Remove crossing branches, where two shoots or branches grow across each other. Leave the healthier looking one, and remove the rest.
Step 2: Check for any shoots that are growing towards the centre of the tree, and remove the stronger ones.
Step 3: Any branches growing downwards can be removed - they are likely to obstruct the others and will receive little light so won't grow as strong.
Step 4: Now focus on the previous year's growth on the main branches - trim them by around 25%, making your pruning cuts just above the outward facing buds.
Step 5: Young shoots can be left unpruned, ready to grow fruit buds in their second year.
Those steps apply to most apple trees, but just to add that for spur bearing trees you should declutter the spurs, leaving them spaced around 10 cm away from each other.
How to prune an apple tree in Summer
Step 1: For summer pruning, focus on new shoots. Cut back any larger ones (anything over 20cm), to around three leaves above the cluster at the base.
Step 2: Cut off any vertical branches
Step 3: Trim back any new shoots that are growing off the existing side shoots, to around one leaf above the base cluster.
That's all there is to Summer pruning - it's much lighter work than Winter pruning.
Pruning Apple Trees - Conclusion
Apple tree pruning is an important job, but it doesn't have to be a complicated one. With the right tools, and by following the steps above, you can make light work of it, and ensure you have a healthy tree to look at for years to come! And why stop there? Shop all Fruit Trees on our site - create your very own fruit utopia in your garden!
