I need to prune this apple tree
by
Bkgriffga
+7
Been pruning this apple tree every year,but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right.I had a lot of apples on it last year but they were so small. Any suggestions?
8 answers
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Here's a site from Mother Earth that gives a good explanation on pruning. Your tree looks pretty good right now. Weather conditions have a lot to do with both crop production and fruit size. I'm assuming you are fertilizing regularly (hopefully with organic fertilizer), one thing you can add is white clover. We plant a circle of white clover under our fruit trees to draw in pollinators to help with blossom set.
Catherine Smith
on Feb 01, 2015
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Don't prune before all danger of frost is gone! Remove the lowest branch on the right and the skinny one on the left. There is a pruning spray you can buy, but I've always just rubbed dirt on it to stop the sap. This method was taught to me by an old gardener more than 50 years ago!
Kathie taylor
on Feb 01, 2015
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Contact your county agricultural department.There you will find the information you need for your area and it is free.
Pgl
on Feb 01, 2015
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Even with proper pruning, you will need to 'thin' your apples. Once apples have emerged, reduce so no more than one Apple per 2" along the branch.
Amy Hamasaki
on Feb 01, 2015
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If you "Google" pruning apple trees, you will discover you MUST know he type of apple you have...there are different methods for the different types. If pruned incorrectly it will be two years before more fruit is seen.
Kathie taylor
on Feb 01, 2015
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In my Master Gardener classes, we were taught to prune apple trees into a "ladder" form. The branches should look like the rungs of a ladder, as if a child could climb it. You might want to search for videos on pruning or talk to your local Cooperative Ext agent for details on pruning. If you are getting plenty of apples but they are small, they need to be thinned. Pick off every third fruit. The tree will put energy into making the others bigger. Here's a picture of my apple tree with the fruit thinned. I think we picked every other apple off that year to get the remaining ones to grow larger. Hope yours is a success.
Jeanne Grunert
on Feb 01, 2015
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Thanks everyone
Bkgriffga
on Feb 01, 2015
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Last week in my Master Gardening class we had a wonderful speaker named Tom Spellman. He spoke about Backyard Orchard Culture. He works at Dave Wilson Nursery in CA and he might be able to send you some information or watch the many you tube video's he has on the subject of pruning. www.davewilson.com and www.youtube.com/z
Linda Zummo
on Apr 07, 2015
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