The apple tree is one of the most common fruit trees in Central European private gardens, after all it enables a rich harvest of sweet fruits with usually little work. The different growth forms of the apple tree on the market have similarities and differences in terms of their growth.
How do you influence the growth of an apple tree?
The growth of an apple tree depends on factors such as genetics, growth habit, grafting and pruning. Young seedlings take an average of ten years to produce their first harvest. With targeted tree pruning, growth can be influenced and the tree crown can be kept he althy.
The growth of the apple tree between desire and frustration
After planting, many gardeners can't get their apple trees fast enough. Especially when planting a young sapling or growing a tree from an apple core, it takes up to ten years on average until the first significant harvest occurs. But the growth of an apple tree can also become a nuisance once it reaches a certain desired size. Strong-growing varieties sometimes have to be cut back at least twice a year in order to maintain their desired shape and vitality.
The location conditions, the cut and the disposition determine the growth
There are different factors that determine the growth behavior and appearance of an apple tree. These include:
- genetic predisposition
- the growth and refinement form
- Time and level of intervention when pruning trees
By choosing a bush, half-trunk or standard tree, you decide on the basic size of your apple tree. The growing base chosen by the breeder and the apple variety grafted onto it also have an influence on the growth rate. Last but not least, pruning can also affect the growth of the tree crown.
Get growth on the right track with pruning
The winter pruning of the apple tree is an important means of influencing the shape of the tree crown. This should not be grown too densely, as a light-drenched branch structure can naturally prevent dangerous diseases in apple varieties that are not very resistant.
Tips & Tricks
Many apple varieties tend to develop many vertical shoots at the top of the tree crown during the summer months. You should remove these with summer pruning, as the shoots cost the tree a lot of energy that it actually needs for the fruit to ripen.
