An apple tree seems to many garden owners to be an easy-care option for a vitamin-rich and delicious fruit yield from their own garden. However, many apple varieties do require some care all year round.
How do you prune an apple tree?
A pruning of the apple tree promotes light, protects against diseases, stabilizes the branches and supports the nutrient supply of the fruit. The cut should not leave any horizontal surfaces and pay attention to stable, loosely branched branches with sufficient branch angles.
Guide the young tree in the right direction
You shouldn't start pruning your apple tree until it finally outgrows you due to its size and height. Rather, targeted pruning in winter, summer and autumn can help give a young apple tree stability and vitality. After all, an ideal tree trimming ensures:
- a lighter treetop
- better protection against fungal infestation and diseases
- more stable branches for the ripening of a rich harvest
- more nutrients for developing fruits
Light and air for the treetop
A light treetop that is well winded is advantageous for several reasons. The leaves illuminated by light can generate enough energy to produce ripe and sweet fruits on the tree. The wind can dry the leaves better in a sparse treetop, which provides better protection against powdery mildew, even for less resistant apple varieties. Last but not least, a tree crown with a loose branch system also enables an easier-care harvest in late summer and autumn.
The correct cut for parenting cuts
In general, cuts on apple trees should be carried out in such a way that no cut surface remains in a horizontal orientation. Otherwise water would accumulate on it, which would break down the outer layer of the tree in winter and encourage diseases to penetrate. Twigs should attach to the branches at an angle that is not too narrow, otherwise they are better removed. Leave the branches that have loose branching and a stable bearing capacity for the expected apples.
Tips & Tricks
If you don't want to venture into pruning your apple tree yourself, perhaps a neighbor or an acquaintance can help you. Perhaps you can agree on a share in the harvest, which will be even richer after the cut, as wages.
