Pruning apple tree

**nickdub** · 17-02-2019, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by Mark_Riga View Post

A couple of apple trees have developed good branches down to the ground.

Is there any good way to prune one like this so it is a better shape? This was from 2017 and has got worse over the last year. Got a good crop of apples of it but many on the floor.

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If it was my tree I'd knock 3 or 4 posts vertically in the ground, each about 3/4's of the way along a relevant branch. Then lift each branch up and tie it to a post to support it . Once I'd finished with that then I'd go round with a secateurs and just do a slight tidy up, the main aim at this stage is to make sure the center of the tree stays open to light and air.

**Lardman** · 17-02-2019, 09:40 AM

What rootstocks are they? my mm106's make straggly trees like that if left to their own devices. Id be picking a few main branches to create scaffolding and shorting them up to strengthen them, then growing the fruiting wood off those. It really is down to what shape you want and what type of pruning system if any you're follow.

**Jungle Jane** · 17-02-2019, 12:06 PM

Do you want to train it on wires adding a few posts or would you prefer it as a free standing tree? You could just prune off anything that would touch the ground,keep reducing the bottom branches,the growth will go elsewhere.

**Mark_Riga** · 17-02-2019, 01:33 PM

I've no idea what the rootstock is most of my trees come from Aldi but I think this was from a local garden centre in a sale. It is a cooker, Lord Derby I think. I've a couple that have drooped like this. I think I will tie them up as Nick suggests and then give them a light pruning to upward facing shoots. I've got a few straight hazel sticks that I can use from a hedge trimming that will be good. I had been hoping to harvest the nuts but no chance so I'm keeping it shorter for the time being.
My main aim would be to get the apples off the ground where they are too handy for slugs, mice and anything else.I find the same with peas. if you keep the pods off the ground mice are a lot less likely to notice them.

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Pruning apple tree

Pruning apple tree

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