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How to prune columnar apple trees
Martin105
Posts: 15
in Fruit & veg
Hello to all
Hope I can get some help regarding pruning my columnar apple trees. I bought these 2 trees in spring last year, 2017, and since they were deemed suitable for pots, thats where I am growing them. One is a culinary variety called Cobra, while the other, ( the smaller one ), is a dessert type called Sunset. Both were 2 year old bare root trees when bought.
Sunset did not set any fruit last year, and Cobra did have a few clusters, which after natural fall and my thinning out, resulted in a couple of fruit reaching maturity. All normal enough for young trees
But what I did not do was any pruning, either in the first summer, or in spring this year. So these are 2 trees that do need pruning ( have taken a few photos to show current growth )
As you can see, both have more than enough fruit, which will also need thinning out soon.
But my immediate concern is the pruning, and exactly when and how to do this properly. It may be that the necessary pruning will itself remove some of the crop, but so be it.
So any pointers or guidance from the members will be greatly appreciated
Hope I can get some help regarding pruning my columnar apple trees. I bought these 2 trees in spring last year, 2017, and since they were deemed suitable for pots, thats where I am growing them. One is a culinary variety called Cobra, while the other, ( the smaller one ), is a dessert type called Sunset. Both were 2 year old bare root trees when bought.
Sunset did not set any fruit last year, and Cobra did have a few clusters, which after natural fall and my thinning out, resulted in a couple of fruit reaching maturity. All normal enough for young trees
But what I did not do was any pruning, either in the first summer, or in spring this year. So these are 2 trees that do need pruning ( have taken a few photos to show current growth )
As you can see, both have more than enough fruit, which will also need thinning out soon.
But my immediate concern is the pruning, and exactly when and how to do this properly. It may be that the necessary pruning will itself remove some of the crop, but so be it.
So any pointers or guidance from the members will be greatly appreciated
0
Posts
If you look up "pruning columnar fruit trees" you will get conflicting advice. Some sorts like "Ballerina" trees are claimed to need no pruning, but I think that's not what you have there.
Your taller tree shows the disadvantage of not pruning! The fruit on the left hand side is pulling down its branch, because the branch is too long and whippy. What you're aiming for is to maintain the columnar shape by reducing the length of the shoots which grow out sideways. If you do this in summer, it will stimulate the tree to produce more fruit buds, as well as thickening up the branches. You need to do it at the right time; first identify the bit of the branch which has grown this year. There will be a thickening at the base of it, and the new shoot will be greenish, and pliable at the tip. If it's pliable all the way to the base of this year's growth, it's too soon to prune; you'll stimulate the tree to grow new shoots before winter. What you want is a bit of stiffness near the base of the shoot. June to July in the South, July-August in the North, usually works.
This web page
https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/guides/articles_summer_pruning_fruit_trees.php
explains it pretty well.
In winter you may need to prune some of the fruited stems back a bit more (because you didn't prune last summer), to maintain the columnar shape. But most of your pruning should be done in summer.
I will be cautiously tackling these trees this week, but you will understand that its the worry of making the wrong cuts, that was my main concern. When you have never pruned fruit trees, and in my case never had fruit trees growing before, you can imagine its a bit daunting
But time is now to do what has to be done. I appreciate the link to the Chris Bowers guide on fruit tree pruning, posted by Liriodendron,
So many thanks again, and will get back online soon
"Start by cutting the shoot that grows out from the very top of the tree – back to the size you want to keep your cordon to – usually about six feet (a handy height: you can reach to pick the fruit without needing to stand on a stepladder)."
I am assuming this means the leader. The problem with all pruning guides, is that they all assume you have done the initial pruning, during first and second year. Since my predicament is that no pruning was done, I really need advice on rescuing a runaway tree
If initial pruning is missed, how best to remedy.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=87#section-4