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Minarette apple trees

surveyor85surveyor85 Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg

When I recently moved to my current address, I inherited two neglected minarette apple trees. They obviously had not been pruned for some years.

Can I hard prune them to restore the correct shape and when? They currently resemble bushes on long stems. Both are currently fruiting. One is a James Grieve, the other unknown.

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    There are a couple of problems with just letting them grow - proximity to the greenhouse and with each other. That leaves the option of restoring their Minarette form which will require some brutal pruning and a thorough maintenance regime thereafter. I would start with a bit of summer pruning to help control growth.
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    edited August 2019
    the growth from this year reduce to two or three leaves now, any branches that don't have any fruit can also be reduced back to two leaves, then any branches with fruit on can be reduced in winter (around Feb time)
    be aware that pruning in winter promotes growth the following spring, so you'll have to still do drastic thinning of branches next summer, also you may well loose all your fruit next year if you do a renovation prune
  • surveyor85surveyor85 Posts: 2
    Thanks to pansyface, steephill and treehugger80. My problem is space and proximity to the greenhouse. Presumably the previous owners planted them with good intentions and old age prevented them from pruning correctly. I think I am in for at least a 2 year programme to revert to 'space saver' mode!
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