Pruning an old apple tree: further care instructions

This old apple tree was pruned three years ago – we even filmed the whole process and you can see it see here. So about 30% was removed. crowns – the apple tree began to breathe more freely, the apples were larger. However, this does not end in serious eradication. Pruning an old apple tree, like any other tree, is necessary regularly. So what to do in the following years?

Look at the example of this old apple tree and the expert’s comments:

Together with arborist Leonard Mekionis of akademijosarboristai.lt we present what additional care is necessary after pruning an old apple tree:

1. Eliminate the werewolves

Pruning an old apple tree encourages the growth of wolfberries. Where an old branch is removed, several new ones sprout upwards.

Remember that vertical branches are not useful, apples tend not to ripen on them. Therefore, avoid the formation of “brooms” of new branches and remove the wolfberries without waiting for them to become stronger and thicker.

Of course there are no bad branches, so if you leave a wolf, do it for a reason. For example, if you want to “promote” a tree, assign one or more wolverines for that purpose.

If you have already done defoliation and it already has its branches, it is possible that they are not vertical and already aligned. Then decide on removal based on the situation and the location of the other branches.

Owls need to be handled annually. The biggest mistake is when the apple tree is forgotten after serious pruning and there are a lot of wolves. Come closer to your apple tree every year and it will thank you.

2. Collect the hanging rotten apples

Such apples are hotbeds of diseases: they are called mummies.

Leonard says that it is necessary to collect apples not only from the tree, but also collect fallen ones in the fall, not to let them rot, but to take them away.

3. Remove dead, diseased and broken branches.

Once you’ve removed any unnecessary branches, we recommend simply looking at your apple tree, walking around it, and evaluating it.

Maybe your apple tree has spread too much in some direction, creating too much shade? Trim those branches, too, so they can support the weight of future apples, so the fruit tree is proportionate and looks good in the yard.

Which tool is best to choose?

The way in which pruning an old apple tree will be carried out depends on the tools and possibilities available.

If you have a ladder, protection (ropes, hard-soled boots, head protection), climb a tree every few years. The handsaw and sharp shears are the most convenient and versatile tools. With such simple tools, pruning an old apple tree is carried out professionally, the cut is made exactly where it needs to be made, the cuts of the branches are precise and without splinters. How to visually correctly cut both a thin and a thick branch we have shown here.

If you don’t have a ladder and protection, if the tree is too weak to climb, if you can’t climb for health reasons, then use Telescopic pruner for trees and shrubs. The shaft length of this tool is adjustable and can reach up to 4 meters. In this case, you stay on the ground and get very high to prune. Really very comfortable and doesn’t require much preparation.

The only drawback is that it may be more difficult to make a precise cut, since the tool is adjusted remotely and the place where the branch is cut is not as clearly visible. But it would be enough to have such a tool at home to carry out annual pruning and, every few years, call a specialist to climb the tree and fix all the essentials.

How to attract birds to the garden?

And the last thing you should do is remove the nests.

Birds – starlings, great tits, long-tailed and others – will not only decorate your garden, but chirp cheerfully, but also help to fight garden and garden pests in a natural way. How else to attract various birds to your plot, read here.

Some products may be shown in collaboration with their manufacturers or distributors, provided that this does not conflict with my view of gardening and that I have tested and used such products in real life. In this video I use Gardena garden tools.

Read also:

“How to prune an old apple tree: tips and video instructions” (this is the same apple tree as three years ago)

All articles related to pruning fruit trees: Click here

“Forming spurred cordon apple trees: you too can control their growth”

“How to plant a columnar apple hedge”

Related courses:

“Pruning fruit trees” – in these courses you will learn how to prune apple trees and other fruit trees to obtain both a good harvest and a beautiful view.

Online courses:

We invite you to visit our distance learning website www.apzeldinimokursai.lt and independently, in some programs and with the help of teachers, study how to set up a modern garden or create the courtyard of your dreams.