Pruning Apple & Pear Tree
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Fruit Trees:
The overall theory of pruning apple trees is to first train the young apple tree to grow efficiently, and then to promote the best production of good quality fruit as the tree matures.
When to Prune Apple & Pear Trees
Prune after planting, and when the tree has grown some, or if you are maintaining a tree that has already been established, pruning will be done in late Winter.
The Central Leader Training/Pruning Method
Most apple trees grown by home gardeners are small-to-medium sized, and are best trained to the central-leader or pyramid system of pruning. The central-leader pruning method suits trees that have a dominant central trunk with lateral branches at regular intervals.This system trains the trees into a pyramidal shape to maximize vital sunlight exposure. With the central leader pruning method, more sunlight is allowed to reach inside the tree. Basically, you prune the upper branches to stay shorter than the lower branches. Wide spacing between the upper and lower branches is key here, and a good rule of thumb is to keep the branches about three feet apart on a mature tree.
Remove suckers from around the tree base, and spindly shoots and water sprouts from along the limbs. Make your pruning cuts nearly, but not completely, flush with the branch, leaving no stubs.
Then cut away all dead, broken, or diseased branches. Also cut out any wood that crosses over or crowds other branches.
Next, identify the central leader (the topmost vertical central branch) and prune other limbs that compete with it. Look the tree over and decide which branches you want to keep. Your goal is to keep more horizontal branches and less vertical branches.
Every Dormant Season: Maintain a pyramidal shape by leaving the lower scaffolds (main branches) longer. Continue to remove shoots that come out from the trunk below the lowest scaffolds as well as any shoots that develop higher on the trunk. Cut any upward-growing branches growing from the scaffolds and other large branches in the tree.
Later Years: To maintain a desired height and spread it will be necessary to prune every dormant season to restrict top growth. To do so, prune all of the lateral growing branches off of the central leader. Then head the central leader by one half of the previous years growth. As the tree grows it will be necessary to thin limbs to allow sunlight to penetrate throughout the tree. Branches that touch other branches, including those of other trees, should be cut. If the top tiers become overgrown with large branches remove them rather than prune large numbers of smaller branches below. Always make cuts as close as possible so as not to leave stubs sticking up or out.
Rejuvinating a Neglected Apple Tree
First thin undesirable interior branches that are diseased, broken, growing upward or downward from the scaffolds (main branches), or branches that cross or crowd other branches.
To reduce tree height cut upward growing branches off at an outward growing branch that is nearly the same diameter and about the height that is desired for the tree. For severely overgrown trees that are much taller than desired, make no more than 3 or 4 of these cuts each year until the height is sufficiently reduced.
Continue to thin remaining branches throughout the tree targeting weak growth and underhanging branches. Begin thinning by working from the periphery of the tree towards the trunk leaving some fruit bearing wood in the interior.
Tools You Might Need
- Hand Saw
- Pole Pruners/Saw
- Hand Pruners or Lopping Pruners
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Fruit Trees:
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Fruit Plants & Trees:
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Plants & Trees: