Pruning a young apple tree: when and how to prune a seedling correctly and form a crown

Why do you prune an apple tree?

Pruning young apple trees is carried out differently than on mature trees: in order not to harm the plant, it is important to follow the recommendations.

• Without pruning, the apple tree becomes very thick, which means it will not produce a good harvest.
• Thanks to the procedure, the crown is lightened and its lighting improves.

As a result, pollination is improved and more fruits are formed after flowering.

Purposes of pruning a young apple tree:

1. Form a crown. A crown shape is achieved that is most suitable for the climate or type of garden.
2. Improve access to light. The crown is well lit, warms up, flowers become more accessible to pollinating insects, thereby increasing productivity.
3. Improve air access. The crown is better ventilated, reducing the risk of the occurrence and development of diseases and pests.
4. Stimulate fruiting. Due to the fact that the crown is open and well lit, the flowers are better pollinated, which means more crops are formed.

After pruning, pollination occurs faster due to free access of insects to flowers (photo by N. Stepanova)

When to prune a young apple tree

Typically, traumatic procedures are carried out during the dormant period of plants. It is important to choose the time so that there is no severe frost – it can harm the plants.

How to choose the timing of pruning a young apple tree at different times of the year:

Apple tree pruning for beginners

Scheme, terms and rules.

Pruning tools: how not to harm a young apple tree

For pruning, take sharp and high-quality garden tools:

• pruning shears – used to cut branches up to 2 cm in diameter;
• garden saw – for cutting thick shoots;
• garden knife – for cleaning cut areas;
• stepladder – to get to high shoots.

Need to check before use pruning tools: They must be in good working order, clean and sharp.

Stages of pruning a young apple tree

Timely formation will help maintain health and increase the productivity of a young fruit tree, starting from the first year of planting.

Pruning annual seedlings

An annual seedling is a twig without shoots about one and a half meters long.

1. All you need to do in the first year is to cut off the top of this shoot (crown).
2. A part of the shoot approximately 10 cm long is removed.
3. The cut is made over a living kidney.

This completes the trimming.

Formation of the crown of a young apple tree

When and how to prune correctly? Diagram and drawings for beginners

Pruning two-year-old seedlings (step by step)

A two-year-old tree, as a rule, already has side shoots. After crowning, they begin to grow actively.

Skeletal branches need to be formed so that at this stage they

• had the same length
• were located at obtuse angles from the trunk,
• grew from various parts of the trunk.

1. Find the 3 most developed branches

• First you need to assess how many shoots have formed and how they are located.
• Ideally, the shoots should grow in different directions and at obtuse angles – the greater the angle of departure from the trunk, the better.

At this stage, it is better to leave the three strongest and most well-developed branches, which are directed in different directions. The rest can be deleted.

2. Remove unnecessary branches

Branches growing at very sharp angles from the trunk can be bent by tying ropes to them and securing them at the base. Or cut them out if they are unnecessary.

3. Shorten long shoots

If one or more branches are too long, they can be shortened by 1/3.

Formation of the crown of a young apple tree by year of planting

Sanitary pruning

Sanitary pruning is the key to health, high productivity and long life of the apple tree.

1. Damaged, diseased and dry shoots can be removed at any time of the year to prevent the development of diseases.
2. If part of the shoot is removed, the cut should be made above the bud directed outward of the crown to prevent it from thickening.

Usually such shoots are cut into rings.

Healing wounds after pruning

After trimming, all sections must be insulated. Typically used for this garden var – they knead it in their hands and cover all the cuts.

Crown thinning

Thinning is an important measure aimed at brightening the crown and increasing its breathability.

Thanks to the annual lightening procedure

• pollination improves (it is easier for insects to get to flowers)
• the harvest is growing,
• the risk of disease outbreaks and pest proliferation is reduced.

First you need to inspect the crown and determine which branches to cut and which to leave.

1. Remove shoots that interfere with each other and thicken the crown.
2. Old branches without fruit buds must also be removed.
3. If you need to remove a large branch, then first it is better to cut off all the shoots that grow on it – this will simplify the process.

Try to make all cuts and cuts in such a way as to remove old and unnecessary branches that interfere with each other and thicken the crown.

Timing for pruning apple trees in autumn

Favorable days, months and weather.

How to prune columnar and dwarf apple trees: pruning features

Dwarf apple trees are strikingly different from columnar apple trees in structure, type of fruiting and formation.

In columnar apple trees, only side shoots are removed

Common mistakes when pruning a young apple tree

In order for the apple tree to produce a good harvest, it is important to avoid mistakes when cutting the crown.

1. Pruning at inappropriate times. If the haircut is done too late in the fall, the shoots may freeze. If you prune prematurely in the spring, the sap will flow out through the cuts.
2. Cut leaving a stump. Sometimes it is acceptable, but often rotting may occur at the stump site, which will lead to dangerous consequences. Therefore, the correct cut is to remove the stump.
3. Trimming a large number of shoots at once. This can cause entire branches to dry out or even kill the tree. If you need to cut off many shoots at once, then it is better to spread the pruning over the seasons – do some of the work in the spring, and some in the fall.
4. Ignoring slice isolation. The sections may become infected, so be sure to isolate them.
5. Working with a blunt instrument. Causes scuffing of the bark and prolonged wound healing. The equipment must be sharp!

To avoid negative consequences, trim apple trees on time, do not leave stumps, do not remove many branches at one time, cover the cut areas with garden varnish, and use a sharp, disinfected tool.

Formation of an apple tree in Siberia

Follow the principle of subordination of branches, follow the rules of formative pruning.

Apple tree care after pruning

After a traumatic procedure, trees need to regain their strength and prepare either for winter (for autumn pruning) or for the new season (for spring work).

Pruning an apple tree in questions and answers

We have collected for you the most popular questions about pruning an apple tree and the answers to them.

How to properly prune an apple tree seedling after planting?

You need to carefully examine the crown of the seedling, highlight the central conductor and subordinate the shoots to it. The crown should be shaped like a herringbone, with the longest shoots at the bottom and the shortest at the top. The shoots should extend at obtuse angles from the trunk, be located on different sides of the trunk, not touch the ground and not be higher than the central conductor. Anything that is outside the norm must be removed or shortened.

Is it possible to trim the top of an apple tree?

If you cut off the top of a mature tree, it will most likely stop growing upward and begin to actively form side shoots. In some cases, the apple tree selects one from the side shoots, gives it the role of a conductor and forms a not very symmetrical crown around it. So you shouldn’t do this unless absolutely necessary.

Pruning an adult apple tree in the fall for renewal and a large harvest

How to prune mature trees: instructions and useful tips.

When should you trim the top of a young apple tree?

When planting an annual seedling, the top is cut off immediately, then the seedling will branch and a crown will form.

Do I need to trim the lower branches of an apple tree?

If the lower branches bend to the ground, cover the base of the trunk or touch the surface of the soil, then it is better to remove them.

How to prune an apple tree so that it does not grow upward?

If the central conductor is removed from a crowned apple tree that is three or more years old, it will not grow upward.