I have two apple trees and one pear tree on dwarf rooting stock. One apple is growing but it is only their first year. All are in large pots and watered regularly. Do they need pruning and if so, how?
Hello all - new to this blog/gardening malarchy and need some advice on the care of old apple and pear trees. We bought a house a year ago and inherited 4 apple trees and a pear tree (along with raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries). The apple trees look fairly old and gnarly and have what appears to be a lot of old wood on them.
The apple crop this year was pretty impressive but because we've been busy renovating the house I haven't had time to care for the garden.The upshot has been all the fruit falling to the ground, pretty early (July/August) leaving very little on the trees themselves.My question is what i should do now (or when appropriate) to help the trees for next season and hopefully hang on to their fruit a bit better.
The branches appear very brittle so we've lost a few over the summer in the ridiculous rain and wind we've had.Should I get up on a ladder and cut away anything 'dead' and how far back should I go ?Thanks for any help you can offer.James
Can anyone knowledgeable be of assistance? I am continually getting conflicting advice. I want to plant and establish a small, edible fruit orchard - mainly apple, with pear, plum and perhaps cherry. The site is coastal, North Wales - low lying and subject to strong winds. Pointers appreciated.
in replie to G G Grower, you will have to be very careful in the selection of which varieties you grow as the conditions are quite harsh. I have been in the process of establishing an orchard in a similar location to that which you describe, and have learned some things along the way, for example you may need to use 1 stage larger rootstock than would usually be recommended for the size of tree you plan to grow as it needs extra anchorage in an exposed position, and the wind will tend to burn the ends of the branches slowing the growth. you may find some information which is useful to you here: http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports.htm not least this information sheet: http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports/newharvest/PerllanauPowysAppleVarietiesPoster.pdf hope this helps and good luck! Jonty
I live in North Wales, about 800Yds. from the beach, just West of the Clwyd estuary. I would like to grow two (or more)apple trees. My wife likes Coxes, Worcester Pearmain & other old varieties (like me).
Can anyone suggest suitable varieties to grow in this area. Soil is estuary silt, (clay like)and sub soil left by the builders. thanks Mike.
We have inherited an apple tree - based on the taste they are cooking apples. Like Pippas tree it is ugly - it is growing sideways due to other trees in our neighbours garden. We had more apples than we could use (there is only so much you can do with them) so we donated them to a restaurant. Question is how do we prune it? It looks nothing like the nicely shaped trees in all of the books. Help!
Hi i am trying to find out where i can buy a reuben apple tree for my nephew. I know they are not a common tree and are fairly rare. DOes anyone know if they are for sale in england yet?
Good for info on pollination of and between different types of apple tree. E.g. Bramley needs other type of apple tree for pollination as it neither self pollinates or pollinates other trees.
when do apple trees start to bud and what comes first the leaves or the flowers first time for my tree this year i got mine with apples on it already and i took them off they looked liked coxs apples i planted my tree now waiting for it to bud this year dont know when it buds any one know
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The branches appear very brittle so we've lost a few over the summer in the ridiculous rain and wind we've had.Should I get up on a ladder and cut away anything 'dead' and how far back should I go ?Thanks for any help you can offer.JamesThe apple crop this year was pretty impressive but because we've been busy renovating the house I haven't had time to care for the garden.The upshot has been all the fruit falling to the ground, pretty early (July/August) leaving very little on the trees themselves.My question is what i should do now (or when appropriate) to help the trees for next season and hopefully hang on to their fruit a bit better.
you will have to be very careful in the selection of which varieties you grow as the conditions are quite harsh. I have been in the process of establishing an orchard in a similar location to that which you describe, and have learned some things along the way, for example you may need to use 1 stage larger rootstock than would usually be recommended for the size of tree you plan to grow as it needs extra anchorage in an exposed position, and the wind will tend to burn the ends of the branches slowing the growth.
you may find some information which is useful to you here:
http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports.htm
not least this information sheet:
http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports/newharvest/PerllanauPowysAppleVarietiesPoster.pdf
hope this helps and good luck! Jonty
I would like to grow two (or more)apple trees.
My wife likes Coxes, Worcester Pearmain & other old varieties (like me).
Can anyone suggest suitable varieties to grow in this area.
Soil is estuary silt, (clay like)and sub soil left by the builders.
thanks Mike.
http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/search.aspx
Good for info on pollination of and between different types of apple tree. E.g. Bramley needs other type of apple tree for pollination as it neither self pollinates or pollinates other trees.