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Apple tree pruning
carboski2000
Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
This is my Apple tree. It’s been in for 5yrs and produces very small sparse fruit. I know I need to prune, but haven’t yet as I don’t have a clue how to prune it! All the advice I read say have a leading branch and prune from there. However, I have a perfect Y shaped tree so don’t know which should be the leading branch, and how much I should prune the leading branch by. It’s also quite lopsided and wonder if it’s ok to the severely stake it back into the upright position, with force!
it into the upright position. Any advice is much appreciated
n
it into the upright position. Any advice is much appreciatedn 0
Posts
I would suggest you wait till December before pruning. Cut back the two large branches by at least half to below any secondary branches. I would also remove the horizontal branch (which is on the right in photo 1, just above the tie). Aim to maintain an open goblet shape in future years.
I would also remove the grass around the base of the tree to a radius of at least 50cm and mulch it instead. If you are going to re-stake it to try to straighten it you will need a much stronger stake, probably two, one each side with a strong tie in between. You might get away with a big stake at 45 degrees driven in on the side it is leaning toward.