Apple trees are known not only for their tasty fruits, but also for their picturesque presence in many gardens. A correct one Pruning is critical to ensuring the health and productivity of the tree. In this article, you’ll learn how to properly prune your apple tree to promote a bountiful harvest and beautiful tree shape.
The best time for pruning
The ideal time to prune an apple tree is late winter or early spring, before the new buds emerge. During this time, the tree is dormant, meaning cuts cause less damage and the tree can recover more effectively. Avoid placing your tree in the growth phase cutting as this can lead to excessive juice loss.
Prepare tools
Before you start pruning, make sure you have the right ones Tools have at one’s fingertips. These include a sharp one Ash saw for thicker branches and a good one secateurs for smaller branches. It is important that all tools are clean and sharp to ensure clean cuts and prevent disease.
Understand cutting techniques
There are various pruning techniques that can be used when pruning apple trees. The Thin cut removes entire branches or branches at their base and is used to thin out crowded areas and allow more light and air to reach the interior of the tree. The Shortening cutwhich involves removing parts of a branch, promotes stronger growth from the remaining buds.
Remove diseased and damaged branches
Always begin pruning by removing any diseased, damaged or dead branches. These can be a source of disease and infect other healthy parts of the tree. Cut these branches back to healthy wood or to the main branch.
Design the shape of the tree
After the damaged and unnecessary branches have been removed, you can concentrate on improving the shape of the tree. The goal is to create a tree with a strong Central axis and well-distributed main branches. This not only promotes the growth of fruits, but also makes care and harvesting easier.
Pruning young trees
For young apple trees, it is particularly important to start pruning early in order to build a good basic structure. Focus on removing competing peaks and encouraging the development of a strong main axis.
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