There is no exact date for cutting apple trees; it must be determined by weather conditions. As soon as the foliage falls off and turns yellow, it means that the sap flow has stopped and you can start pruning the branches.
Autumn pruning differs from spring pruning in that very little time remains before frost and to restore the life of the apple tree. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the pruning of branches so that there are 2-3 weeks left before the snow falls, otherwise the tree will not have time to recover.
In the fall, only prune those branches that might interfere with the tree's recovery in the spring. If the branch to be removed is more than 10 cm thick, it is best to leave it until spring. In the autumn, mainly cut only small dry branches that have been damaged or infected.
Cropping occurs in the following sequence:
- clear the area under the tree from fallen leaves;
- prepare, if necessary, a flooring for installing a ladder, if the apple tree is high and there is no way to cut branches from the ground;
- cut off excess branches that go to the middle of the crown and do not give access to the sun's rays and air to the trunk;
- remove branches that have an angle less than 45 °, since they can break off in the first place with a plentiful harvest;
- remove young shoots at the base of the trunk;
- prune branches to give a certain shape to the crown and top of the apple tree so that it does not grow up and bear fruit better.
Novice gardeners make some mistakes, in order to avoid them and get a decent harvest of apples, you need to follow certain rules.
- You can not immediately process the cut with garden pitch.
- Consider weather conditions before starting pruning.
- The tools with which you will prune branches must be very sharp and thoroughly sanitized.
Autumn pruning rejuvenates apple trees, resuming the vegetation of old trees, and prevents the appearance of diseases. For rejuvenation, you need to prune old and damaged branches every 2-3 years.
In young trees, in the first five years of life, formative pruning is carried out to create the desired shape at the crown. It is important to remember that you cannot cut off more than one third of all branches, and it is imperative to process the cuts with garden pitch.
Pruning in autumn makes it easier for the apple trees to overwinter and stimulates the awakening of the buds. After a haircut, you need to properly care for the trees, then it will be as useful as possible.
Read also: An autumn transplant of lilies is a guarantee of exuberant flowering in the next season
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