In apples, the most productive wood is 2-5 years old. Fruit trees were bred over many decades to bear on young wood. Stretch Tie is a commercial orchard product designed for this purpose, available at the nursery. For all tree tying, we recommend using an expandable material that won’t cut into the tree as it grows. Tie the leader to the stake every 18″-2′. Tie the trunk of the tree to the stake just below the first branches. You may have the fortune of being the recipient of 10-15 lbs of fruit in the second year, but if your tree isn’t staked, it will probably be destroyed by the weight of the fruit even before the wind has a chance. The varieties we sell often begin bearing fruit in the trees’ second year. We live in a windy place the stake not only should be used to hold the tree up but more importantly it can be used to hold the fruit up. Use posts that will be at least 5′-6′ tall at finished grade. To open the tree to light and air circulation.
If you’re just planting fruit trees for the first time, you might want to look at the Learn to Grow Fruit Trees page. For more information read our guide to tools for pruning, and if you’re looking to update your kit, our experts have been busy testing the best pruning saws, the best secateurs and the best anvil loppers, so you can buy with confidence.Download a pdf on Pruning Apples to central leader form Whether it’s a pair of long-handled loppers, pruning saw or secateurs, using the right tool is essential for this task. So, whether your tree is fully established or newly planted, follow our tips below on how to prune your fruit trees.
Once your tree has reached the required size and shape, most pruning can be done in summer, although a small amount is still needed every winter for maintenance. This will help to minimise pests and diseases, and enable more sunlight to reach the developing fruit in summer. You should aim to open up the centre of your tree so that air can circulate between the branches. How to prune an apple treeĪpples that are grown on dwarfing rootstocks (M9 and M27) need little pruning, but medium or large trees benefit from being cut back hard. This is because the trees are dormant in winter, so by cutting back branches and shoots, you are concentrating the flow of sap in spring into fewer buds, resulting in stronger growth. While summer-pruning fruit trees encourages flowering and fruiting, pruning in winter controls the overall shape, size and health of your tree.
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