Pruning Apple trees in January/February is a garden maintenance job that needs to be thought about and studied before going into it all guns blazing. My idea of heaven is to own a big plt of land and grow an orchard with apple trees as far as could see them. The only problem is that you’d either need a lot of patience working your way through them, or you’d have to hire a work force and it only takes disease to take hold, kill a number of your precious crop, and you’re still picking up the bill for your staff. So for now i’m sticking with design orchards rather than growing them!

There are 3 main things to consider when pruning an apple tree.

1. Spraying

This is not an annual task and i’m sure the majority of domestic apples trees don’t get this as regularly as they could but it can really have its benefits if you are susceptible to disease.
Before blossoming spray the tree with superior oil to fend off red mites, aphids and scale then spray once every 10-12 days after blossoming to make sure you’ve got any remaining cling ons!

2. Allow light in

Every tree will do better when there’s enough light to enter in the centre of the tree but this needs to be lightly thinned rather than hacked into at the centre and everything else left. I remember turning up for a consultation with the clients livid that the previous gardener had hacked into their prize magnolia leaving it looking like the friar tuck of the tree world, not a good look! Use a sharp pruning saw and clean Felco Secateurs to thin out the older and less productive branches to allow for new grow and higher crop yields. Cut at the knuckle where the branch start to thin out from the main trunk and don’t be too conservative, it may produce slightly less the coming year but it will last longer and stay healthier in the long run.

3. Cut Out any Crossing and Rubbing Branches

This is the classic cause of all disease in every fruit tree and just about every tree. Branches crossing eachother will naturally rub against one another and evenutuall cause a wound in the tree. Once an open wound appears, disease and pests will thrive and will attack the tree givn half the chance. This is very hard to overcome once the tree is infected so the best course of action is prevention! Cut any branches just above a bud facing outward to promote a healthy ‘open hand shape’.

If you need advice or would like someone to professionally prune your tree and you’re in Surrey,Hampshire or West Sussex feel free to get in touch on our Contact Form!