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Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I know winter is the time to trim the apple trees, but which limbs should be trimmed off and which ones should be kept.Tree is now about 10 ft. tall now, with branches growing everywhere. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Phil

2/8/2004 8:03:02 AM

Montoursville, PA

Phil.....I am not jolking this time. The best set of rules for pruning an apple tree were these two sentences.

Prune anytime the saw is sharp. Prune so that a drunk Robin can fly through untouched by what you leave unpruned.

A third consideration makes for good pruning. Never cut away more than ten to fifteen percent of the existing tree in one year. Breaking this rule of thumb could shock your tree into an every other year producing tree.

2/8/2004 9:58:00 AM

Amherst, WI

Just try to keep the tree symetrical, remove small limbs from crowded areas and also any that grow toward the center of the tree.

2/8/2004 10:01:24 AM

Long Island,New York

One horizontal cut 6 inches above the ground usually does the job. Messy disease prone trees....lol...apples cheap enough at the apple store......G

2/8/2004 10:15:33 AM

Indiana

The way the orchards do it around here is cut anything growing straight up leave only horizontal branches or semi horizontal branches the trees look funny but its easier to pick the apples.
Steve

2/8/2004 10:18:17 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I agree with every single post. Escpecially G's.

That said, you're trying to creat "scaffolding branches" at the young trees stage in life. Get it right now, & the tree will lend itself well to future pruning, air circulation, harvesting etc.

Remove all upward branches & especially those that engage at a "narrow crotch".

Train for symmetry with an eye toward light as well. There is no point leaving branches that shade other branches later. So think about the direction of summer suns movement too.

When in doubt, cut any way! LOL

2/8/2004 10:49:45 AM

Massillon, Ohio

as far as my family is concerned, pumpkins are "messy and disease proned" too !! not to mention "acre-eating".

2/8/2004 11:26:48 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Thanks all for the info. It is much appreciated.

Phil

2/9/2004 6:33:45 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey Phil.....As good looking and intelligent as we all are no one thought to suggest taking an afternoon drive out to the local nursery or apple orchards to study how they do it.

2/9/2004 10:21:09 AM

Long Island,New York

Hey Doc....for some reason telling Phil to "take a hike" wasn't what I think he was after....lol.....G

2/9/2004 2:36:05 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Doc No orchards in my area or they would have been the first plase I would have checked.

2/9/2004 3:52:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

Using "pruning apple trees" Google will take you to the major universtiy works with pictures and likely more than you care to read.:) Some are targeted for specific geographical areas.

2/9/2004 5:44:02 PM

Covington, WA

Plenty of good advice here. You want to remove the buggy whip braches, these tend to go straight up and be single spikes. The tree should be open enough that you can toss your hat through it when your done. Remove any crossing branches as well and ones that come off at an acute angle.

2/10/2004 3:12:28 AM