by Christopher Chatterton

Created on: May 10, 2010

An apple tree is one the most popular type of trees to be found in gardens around the world. The dual qualities of apple trees - the picturesque floral blooms in spring, and edible and bountiful fruit in autumn – as well as an aptitude to grow in all but the harshest of environments, make them highly desirable.

However, simply planting an apple tree and waiting for it to spawn juicy apples will, in the long run, lead to the deterioration in the overall health of the tree. Therefore, adequate measures must be taken each season to care for the tree. One of the most important of these measures is the proper amount and properly placed pruning of winter branches, and misshapen, overgrowing or diseased branches. 

Pruning equipment

Secateurs

Before starting it is necessary to have the proper pruning equipment as hacking at the tree with a saw might damage its ability to grow and cause open 'wounds' where fungus and disease can form. A good pair of hand secateurs, with a good sharpened edge, is a staple for pruning apple trees. They will act like a surgeon’s scalpel and allow you to remove the minimum amount of damaged tissue without disturbing the whole branch.  

Loppers or long-armed secateurs

Loppers are simply reinforced secateurs with a pair of stronger blades on the end of long poles or handles and are capable of cutting through thicker branches. These are often telescopic (a tubular extension within a tube), which allow you to reach high up or hard to reach branches, without the need for climbing.

Pruning saw

A pruning saw is a specialist tree saw with very sharp cutting teeth, that can either be one-handed or two-handed, the latter usually mounted on a long pole or handle to reach awkward or high up branches.

When to prune

Most apple trees should be pruned before new growth starts but when they are at their most dormant, in the northern hemisphere this will be in the winter. This is because this will encourage the tree to grow more vigorously by the following spring due to the excess energy it has received.

How to prune younger or 'bush' apple trees

To gain an aesthetically pleasing tree for years to come, and limit entangled branches and a reduced yield of fruit, any branches that are crossed or entwined should be removed. In immature or first year trees, this should be done by ensuring that each branch has at least four buds, as this means it has enough potential to grow after pruning. In this way the cut can be made anywhere

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