Pruning is one of the most important steps in apple tree care as it ensures a bountiful harvest. It is extremely important to properly care for the young tree and shape its crown in order to facilitate future harvesting and further care of the plant.
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Spring and winter pruning
The very first cuts of the plant are made immediately after planting. Newly planted seedlings are pruned in the spring in March or April. If the apple tree was planted in the fall, then pruning must be done in the spring. This is the first step in forming the crown of the plant. It should be borne in mind that already cut fruit trees are most often sold in the markets. Therefore, at the time of purchase, it should be clarified whether the undercut has already been performed.
An unbranched tree with one main shoot is shortened to a height of 70-90 cm. From this point on, side shoots begin to be produced. If an apple tree is planted with a crown, where there are main branches and several lateral ones, then during pruning, 3-7 shoots are left, growing horizontally or slightly inclined, and the rest are removed. Left shoots are shortened by 1/4 or 1/3 of the length. The main shoot should also be shortened to stimulate its growth. After planting, continue to prune the tree regularly for 3-4 years. It is preferable to make such cuts in the last days of winter or early spring.
Winter pruning of apples
For older trees, cuts are made in late winter or early spring. This facilitates the penetration of sunlight into the crown of the plant, reduces the risk of the spread of fungal diseases and regulates fruiting. After reducing the number of branches, the fruits are larger and tastier.
Pruning is done when the fruit trees are in winter rest and there is no longer any risk of severe frost. Many gardeners try to do pruning not in winter, but with the onset of spring warming. However, in this case, you need to be careful not to cut the apple trees too late, which can harm the plant.
Autumn and summer pruning
Interestingly, more and more gardeners are trying to prune the apple tree in the fall, when the leaves are crumbling from the trees and the plants are resting. In this case, circumcision should be performed before the onset of severe frosts (usually in early December). It is not recommended to postpone pruning, as this is associated with a high risk of plant freezing.
The purpose of summer cuts is to remove young shoots growing vertically. The apple tree is pruned from July to August. Trees bear best fruit on 2-, 3- and 4-year-old shoots. Therefore, extra thin annual branches should be removed.
Early varieties are pruned in early June, while later varieties are cultivated in the second half of August, but not later than early September, as late cuts can stimulate apple growth as it prepares to move into winter relaxation.
The following tools are prepared for processing the apple tree: scissors, pruning shears and garden saws. Better to use a two-handed garden shears that can reach taller branches. A conventional hand pruner is suitable for cutting thin shoots. The saw is used to cut thicker branches.
When buying tools for processing apple trees, it is best to choose products from well-known manufacturers. In addition to cutting tools, you will also need garden ointment, preferably used with the addition of fungicides. The product is applied to all cut sites, which promotes rapid wound healing and reduces the risk of disease.
Apple pruning (tips for beginners) must be done.
Although the apple tree can grow and bear fruit without treatment, over time, an uncut tree grows too thick, and the branches in its crown become very thick. The fruits become small, do not ripen well, and the tree is easily infected with diseases. In addition, too dense branching leads to a decrease in fruit and a decrease in the quality of the crop. This is why cuts are required regularly from the moment the tree is planted in the garden.
Pruning will help shape the crown of the tree, ease the maintenance work and ensure a bountiful harvest, since the fruits grow better after that.
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