What you need to know about pruning young apple trees

The pruning of each apple variety should be approached individually, taking into account the age, structural features of the branches and the frequency of fruiting. So when and how to prune a young apple tree? Let's get acquainted with the general rules.

Pruning young apple trees is an important and very difficult agricultural technique. It is from him that the appearance of the tree and its yield will depend in the future. The crown must be properly formed, which will contribute to high fertility and presentation of the fruit. If pruning is not carried out or carried out out of time, this will lead to overloading of the branches and their fragility, the fruits will become of poor quality, fruiting periodically, and the winter hardiness of the tree will significantly decrease.

When to trim?

Regardless of whether the apple tree was planted in the fall or spring, pruning it will be the same. It is advisable to start in the spring in early March, while the buds have not yet awakened. It is during this period that pruning will be formative and will contribute to proper growth and high yields in the future.

Pruning can also be carried out in the fall, then it will be of a sanitary and preventive nature. You can start to it only at a certain time interval: as soon as the leaves fall. And it must be completed before the first frost. This must be remembered, because if the pruning is carried out at sub-zero temperatures, this will negatively affect the vital activity of the tree, since the resulting cut will not have time to overgrow and freeze.

During summer pruning shorten, as a rule, the shoots of the current year. It promotes the emergence of fruit buds, for the better affects the size and color of the fruit.

Do not under any circumstances pruning in winter, it is strictly contraindicated. After all, winter is a time when all trees are at rest, all vital processes slow down and they cannot heal even an insignificant wound. And the unprotected trunk is the gateway for various diseases.

Pruning annual apple trees

In order to help the lateral shoots of an unbranched apple tree, which was planted in the current year, to form, it should be properly trimmed, namely, all lateral branches should be removed at a distance of one meter from the earth's surface. As soon as the side shoots appear, it is time for the formation of the crown.

If the one-year-old seedling is branched, in this case, the side shoots must be removed up to 70 centimeters from the ground. If the shoots grow higher, only those that form an acute angle with the tree trunk are pruned. This must be done so that in the future these branches do not bend and break from the weight of the fruit. If the situation requires you to preserve the shoots, then you need to delay them. To do this, use stretch marks. It is best to do this in summer, when the shoots are very pliable and flexible. In the event that they are located at an angle close to 90 degrees, removal occurs up to the third or fifth bud from the base of the shoot. If the shoot has a wide angle, then in the future such a branch will provide the seedling with a strong and durable crown.

It is also important that an apple tree with an almost horizontal arrangement of branches will begin to bear fruit earlier. If it grows quickly, then the conductor must also be cut, only its length should be higher than the length of the lateral shoots, therefore it is often called the leader. If this is not done, then each new tier of branches will be located at a great distance from the previous ones.It is desirable that the leading shoot exceed the lateral ones in height by at least 20 centimeters. In the event that the conductor is damaged or underdeveloped, the strongest of the upper branches is used instead. With the help of a garter to the leader, she needs to be given a vertical position.

Options for pruning young apple seedlings photo

If a competing shoot grows in parallel with the conductor, it is either cut off or pulled almost to the horizontal level.

Thus, a rounded, natural and very strong crown is obtained.

For the next 3-5 years, it is better not to disturb the apple tree and not resort to pruning the shoots. Otherwise, you can cause a delay in fruiting. But if the tree has diseased or broken shoots, then it must be rejuvenated. Such branches are cut off at the very base.

One of the main rules when pruning annual seedlings is subordination, when the older branches should be stronger than those that grow on them, and not otherwise. Otherwise, strong young shoots must be shortened to slow down growth. However, one-year-old shoots of a young tree should not be heavily pruned, because this will cause a dense crown to appear and delay the fruiting process. It is only necessary to shorten those shoots that reach 70 centimeters and carry out pruning on the outer bud, since it is from this bud that the shoot is formed in the future, growing outward, and not inside the crown. When doing this, pay attention to the type of wood and its tendency to thicken. If the apple variety is not prone to a dense crown, then it is pruned to the inner bud.

Pruning annual apple seedlings (video)

This video will show you how to properly prune annual apple tree seedlings.

Pruning two-year-old apple trees

Such a tree is a trunk and a few outgoing shoots. When pruning, you need to choose 4-5 of the strongest and strongest shoots that have a wide angle. You don't need to touch them, because these are the main and main branches of the tree.... All others should be shortened. Above the most developed kidney, it is necessary to form a central conductor. It should rise 5 buds above the skeletal branches, be strong and grow vertically. The shoots are cut as follows: the branches located at the bottom should be longer (up to 30 centimeters), and the upper ones should be shorter. Branches similar in strength and growth rate are subject to removal, because these are competitors. To form a crown, it will be enough to leave 4 skeletal branches. They should be evenly spaced around the stem and move away from it at an angle of at least 60 degrees. This will form a round and strong crown of a two-year-old seedling. As the apple tree grows, you will need to plant a couple more skeletal branches. The first one should be located half a meter higher from the lower tier. All subsequent ones are higher, 30-40 centimeters from each other. Make sure that the pruning prevents the branches from crossing and promotes a spacious crown.

Pruning a two-year-old apple tree seedling photo

Pruning any one or two year old seedling should be done with a sharp knife, preferably a garden knife, not a pruning shears. Do not forget to process all sections. To do this, use a garden var, oil paint is also suitable, only based on drying oil.

Remember to only prune healthy and strong trees. The weak will not be able to tolerate this procedure. Their wounds will heal for a long time, and as a result, the apple tree will die or will not bear fruit.

Prune properly and enjoy a harmonious look and harvest from your garden.

Pruning two-year-old apple tree seedlings (video)

This video will show you how to properly prune two-year-old apple tree seedlings.

 

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