Many novice gardeners often wonder how to prune apple trees in the fall and whether it can be done at this time. And although, according to many professionals, the best time for this procedure is late winter, a favorable period for pruning can be considered any time when the tree has already stopped bearing fruit, but has not yet entered the next phase of rapid growth and development.
Why do it
Successful pruning goes a long way in keeping trees he althy. In apple trees, moreover, after this procedure, an increase in productivity and an increase in the size and taste of the fruit are observed. It should be remembered that whatever the answer to the question of how to prune apple trees in the fall, this should be done only with clean and very sharp tools. Wet plants should never be subjected to this procedure. The cut is best made on he althy wood and processed immediately after the end of the process.
When is the best time to prune apple trees
In the first time after landing, it is better to let everything take its course. The tree will delight its owner with large, juicy and very tasty fruits for at least several years. However, any, even a completely inexperienced gardener, will soon notice that the yield and quality of apples will fall from year to year. Do not attribute this phenomenon to bad weather. The strong neglect of the tree is to blame for everything. Anyone who was interested in how to prune apple trees in the fall will tell you that this procedure can drastically change the harvest the very next year. This is due to the fact that, by removing some branches, the gardener reduces the total number of ripened fruits and provides good illumination directly inside the crown. This technique leads to accelerated growth of fruits, which is not surprising, because they receive much more nutrients and have a very attractive appearance. Pruning is best done when there is no circulation of juice inside the tree, and its wood is not frozen. The ideal time is the end of autumn or the very beginning of spring.
When can I prune an apple tree
It is best to perform this operation from the second year of the tree's life, when its crown can be formed. After fruiting begins, heavy pruning will be necessary, cutting and shortening many branches. Such a measure can greatly increase the yield of a tree and create a special crown structure that can hold moreharvest.
Any beginner gardener who needs to know how to prune apple trees in the fall needs to remember a few basic points:
- the procedure must be repeated every year, then the plant will endure the loss of its part less painfully;
- you can not delete more than one third of the total number of branches;
- branches should be cut obliquely above the bud on the outside of the branch, this method allows you to achieve a very fast runoff of water and form an escape that does not thicken the crown;
- you need to cut out the oldest branches, over the years their yield will fall, and by removing them, the gardener directs the juices of the tree to the development of new shoots.
Follow these simple rules, and every year your apple trees will bear large bulk fruits of excellent taste.
