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Apple Tree Pruning

HumberBoyHumberBoy Posts: 27
in Fruit & veg
Hi All
I'm back again re my Apple Tree. It is now about 10 years Old and growing well. I have kept it to about 8ft high. Last year I gave it a good prune back to a nice open goblet shape. All is well and I have lots of baby apples appearing. But. I also now have lots of branches coming off of where I did my pruning between 2 and 10 inches long. These are full of leaves and all of the apples are shaded from the light. I think these are called water shoots.
Should I prune them all off or what do you think. In the 10 years I have only had 2 eatable apples. All I want are a few apples.
What do you suggest.
Thanks

Posts

  • HumberBoyHumberBoy Posts: 27

    Here we go. Left branch under the washing line is typical but as you will see there are lots more.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    They are growing not ripening as yet @HumberBoy so if you can manage to wait until the end of July it would be better. They will still have time to ripen after that.
  • HumberBoyHumberBoy Posts: 27
    Thanks for all of this info.
    I  cant see any embryo apples on the tree now. They all seem to
    have fallen off. So Big decision this year. I am going to cut it down
    and replace it with a self fertile tree as I don't think this one is.
    1) What do you recommend as a small tree say max 10ft high.
        and is self fertile. I hear that Braeburn is.
    2) Can I plant another tree in the same place.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Did it flower? If it flowered and no fruit you need a pollinator.  If its not flowering is it in too shady a position do that the fruit buds don't  form? My little trees are less than 10 years old and giving masses of fruit.  Mine also look very congested at the moment, but I will cut all new shoots back to two buds in August to form next years fruiting spurs.
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    It's clearly healthy - graft a couple of varieties onto it rather than cutting it down.
  • HumberBoyHumberBoy Posts: 27
    Hi fidgetbones - Yes it flowered and there were small apples on it. It is in full sun
    up until about 4pm then it is in dappled shade. Over the last 10 years I have only had one or two edible apples from it.
    Hi StephenSouthwest. Thanks for that but I would rather dig it up and buy a new tree.
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