pruning apple trees

[JRobyn]

I know that pear trees are a bit different, but just as an example of how bad a fruit tree can get, yet still be useful, I offer the following.

When we bought our property, there was an old pear tree by one of the old homesteads, now long gone. Best we can determine, it is a "Winter Nellis" variety. It had not been tended at all in at least several decades. The trunk was encircled by a poison ivy vine about 5 inches in diameter that had nearly killed the tree. Major portions of the main trunk were completely rotted.

We cut off the poison ivy and severely pruned much of the wildly overgrown top out the tree, probably 40% of its overall growth, then fertilized it well with ground spikes. The following year, it rewarded us with beautiful blossoms, new growth and a bumper crop of pears. We found it very hard to believe that it could do so well and that the weight of the crop did not break the severely damaged trunk. It has continued to do well since, but is still a challenge to keep vertical growth in control.



- Jay

 

[forgeblast]

Rodsauderthat is the way that most of mine look like when I find them, get started with them.
Most of mine also have moss on the bark. What I would do with that tree is prune all the dead, then open up the middle a bit to let more light get in there. Then look at the branches, if they cross over another branch prune them. If it comes off a branch and goes up prune it. You can do a lot to that tree with out hurting it. I am glad someone said something about the ground spike fert I have to pick some up for this year.

 

[leveled]

I am learning lots , so Thanks to everyone for replying. Here is a few pics of what I am working with. View attachment 364682

Looks like some broken aspen in the background too, funny how the tops just split off.

 

[woodlandfarms]

when we purchased our home, no one knew it had an old orchard. It took me a year of digging through blackberries to find our 20 tree surprise. Needless to say, the trees were in real bad shape.

I built a manlift bucket for my tractor, Safety police can stuff it as it is way safer than being on a ladder. We always prune in late fall. Do not prune once the tree comes back online. We prune once a year. Water spouts, the verticles you need to clear out first, Then you open the center of the tree up and cut out stuff that crosses over as much as possible. There is a way to trim the branches, clipping at particular bud points but that is detail I leave to my wife.

Our first cut on the trees was brutal, we cut them way back (water spouts were around 4" calipers). The addage I live by is if in doubt, cut it out. Apples love to be trimmed.

We take 3 days of winter light to trim 20 trees. the tractor is the saving grace. I put the wife in the bucket in position and while she details, I work from the ground getting what I can.

Oh, IMO apples are cyclic, good years and bad years. Once you cut them back give them a two year cycle before you take them completely out.

Oh, make your cuts as close to the limb as possible. Nubs are not good for the tree.

 

[California]

Woodlandfarms, all excellent advice about the trees.

But I don't use my tractor bucket as a manlift. Years ago on a construction job (Journeyman Carpenter) I was using a forklift with a cobbled-together manlift to work on some second story windows. When I drove the forklift to a new location the manlift fell to the ground. I found a bad weld had been welded back on several times and that weld broke again.

After that I started taking safety warnings more seriously.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have fallen off a ladder twice. Broken arm and dislocated shoulder.

I should show this in pictures, but I built a cage on top of a plastic pallet. Bolted it all together. use the pickle forks and ratchet straps. Plastic pallet is an amazing sturdy base and the cage is rock solid... Pallet also wraps around pickle forks so.... Is it safer than a ladder? For me it absolutey is. In the end I would rather have a machine designed for lifting but it is not in the cards.

Should never have called it a bucket. It is more a large work platform.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

All this talk got me to go out tonight with the lopers and take a whack at my apple trees. I forgot to do them last yr, so lots of vertical growth. Will have to get my tractor out to reach the tops.

 

[rodsauder]

I really appreciate all the tips. I have done about 4 trees now using all the advice. Some of the trees were just about strangled by what looks like grape vines. The picture with the aspens that have the tops broke off is a result of an ice storm we had a few months ago. I am not sure of all the varieties that I have but I do know there are a few ( some are red ,some are yellow etc ) did not have time last fall to actually research them. Of note here. I was leary of cutting branches more than 2" across. Now after reading all the posts, these trees are in for a major haircut.. Thank You everyone.

 

[leveled]

The vines are real killers. I cut them anywhere I can see them and poison them by spraying the cut end. I then pull them out of the trees after they sit for some time, I use my tractor and chain or just pull by hand.