Pruning an apple tree

[rogerius]

I just planted around 40 apple tree (golden and red delicious) last year and last week I was and take a look how they are doing. They look great but I was thinking what I have to do in the spring; I guess it will be the pruning process. Unfortunately I don't have any experience, so I have to ask this question here and maybe some of you can guide me based on some pictures attached (what and were I have to trim)
Thanks in advance.

 

[dex3361]

When pruning apple trees there are a few rules of thumb.

Prune the branches that are between 10 oclock and 2 oclock except the main leader.

Prune at the appropriate time of the year here in zone 6 it is between the middle of Feb to the middle of March.

You can safely prune up to 1/3 but no more.

Do not cover you pruned area just let it dry and grow over.

Apples are produced on the growth of the previous year.

Finally the old farmer rule is to prune so you can toss a cat through the tree without him hitting a limb. LOL

From the picks you have posted I would pick the healthiest upright branch for a main leader then apply the first rule.

Not hard and fast rules but some guidelines that many will likely disagree with.

 

[forgeblast]

You tube's video selection on pruning trees is good. You will probably want to prune the central leader and I usually use limb spreaders to make sure if there is fruit on the branches they dont break. I think of a spider shape when pruning.

 

[radioman]

When pruning, always think- apples this year grows on last year new shoots. Since you planted the trees last year, most likely you will get apples this summer so pruning is IMHO is not needed this spring.

 

[jonyyuma]

It looks like most of it was covered on apples. I could not tell that the pruning pitch worked on the large cuts...Sometimes the cut will try to rot if it does not have enough angle for runoff.. My Apple trees have lasted a long time, the peaches and cherry trees were killed by borers after about 5 years time. I could not put out enough chemicals to save them down here in the south?