FRANK HOLMES asked 13 years ago
How would I go about pruning an old apple tree 30 x20 ft high?
1 Answers
Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
Old apple trees can be cut back hard to the main branches and one or more new branches allowed to develop from the many new shoots produced on each main limb. Select just a few shoots and remove all others as they develop.
Or a less severe pruning can be done over three years.
In the first winter, remove all crossing, rubbing and damaged shoots and those growing towards the centre of the tree.
In the second winter, the remaining branches can be thinned out by one in three.
In the third winter, the remaining shoots can be cut back by half or one-third.
More at: https://gardenie.wpengine.com/gerrycategory/apples/?id=5389
