Apple Tree Prunning Critque

[Tree Spud]

I have prunned before, but this is my first attempt at prunning to develop strong primary lateral limbs. Would like your review of the pruning below.

A question I have, is there are 2 leaders creating a "Y" circled in red below. Should I leave or remove one? If remove, how do you determine which one?

 

[Barndog56]

I would definitely remove a leader, normally the straighter of the two, or the smaller of the two.

If those cages are going to be there permanently, I would remove those 4 bottom laterals. Once they bear apples, the weight will cause them to lay on the top of the cages, possibly even breaking.

 

[Telemark]

I would remove the one on the left.

 

[Prof.Kent]

Remove one leader. Leave the one that balances the tree best.

 

[Apple Junkie]

If it were me, I’d remove the branch on the left. It looks like the right branch is the straighter of the two, and, it seems to have a couple nice lateral branches developing up higher. Just my two cents

 

[H20fwler]

Agree, and if it were me I would prune off some of that lower stuff now too. I don't want any branches lower than 4'-5' and try to cut them off young so tree can spend energy going up and out.

 

[Tree Spud]

I would definitely remove a leader, normally the straighter of the two, or the smaller of the two.

If those cages are going to be there permanently, I would remove those 4 bottom laterals. Once they bear apples, the weight will cause them to lay on the top of the cages, possibly even breaking.

The cages will remain to protect from bucks rubbing. They are 5' high and I was going to reduce the height once the tree developed and i had a better idea of the lower limbs development.

Do you keep cages around your trees once they have matured?

 

[Tree Spud]

Agree, and if it were me I would prune off some of that lower stuff now too. I don't want any branches lower than 4'-5' and try to cut them off young so tree can spend energy going up and out.

As you remove the lower limbs to 4-5', do you have problems with bucks rubbing the lower trunk?

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I'd also remove the lower 4 or 5 branches to get more upward growth. Why waste the tree's energy on limbs you'll take off later? I've done this with our camp trees - about 80 of them - and I eventually prune off everything below 6 ft. above ground level. Following the advice of others who've been growing apples longer than me, I've tried to develop strong central leaders and lateral limbs with good crotch angles to be able to handle future fruit loads. The end goal is to get plenty of sun and airflow throughout the trees, which helps minimize disease problems.

 

[H20fwler]

As you remove the lower limbs to 4-5', do you have problems with bucks rubbing the lower trunk?

No, I leave cages on and if tree isn’t bigger than the barrel of a softball bat I keep lower trunk screened too.
Way to much time invested in them to let some horny buck try and fight them or have rabbits or voles chew them in winter.
You can make cages smaller diameter if you want when trees are older. I think I’m going to start going smaller diameter from the start with new fruit trees because I don’t really want the lower branches anyway.

 

[Telemark]

I wouldn't cur a leader and remove branches in the same year

 

[Barndog56]

The cages will remain to protect from bucks rubbing. They are 5' high and I was going to reduce the height once the tree developed and i had a better idea of the lower limbs development.

Do you keep cages around your trees once they have matured?

I have no plans to ever remove my cages. Too much time and effort goes into them to let a buck ruin one in just one night. Although, perhaps that would help draw a buck in? Lol

 

[Tree Spud]

Thanks guys, looks like the left leader will go. Like the idea of removing lower limbs also.

Any concerns with taking too much off? I have read you should never remove more than a 1/3 of the tree when prunning.

 

[Tree Spud]

I wouldn't cur a leader and remove branches in the same year

Why?

 

[Telemark]

It will probably shoot off a bunch of bushy growth and water sprouts that will just have to be removed again.

 

[Mortenson]

I would probably compromise. Take off the left leader and the lowest 2 branches. Then next year the next highest scaffold and so forth. Within a few years you'll have all growth at cage height without having had to remove anything too large or make the tree to whippy and unstable.

 

[TenPoint]

I’ve gone crazy and cut off 50% of a bushy tree. A 2nd leader and a bunch of lower branches. In a few years you’ll never know the difference.

 

[H20fwler]

Thanks guys, looks like the left leader will go. Like the idea of removing lower limbs also.

Any concerns with taking too much off? I have read you should never remove more than a 1/3 of the tree when prunning.

If it were two months ago I would be less concerned, this late in spring I would be more conservative and take the left leader off with just a few of the lower branches and take the rest of the low stuff you don't want next spring. I myself would also think about using some type of tar based wound seal on the cuts like TreeKote to protect them to since branches are a little bigger.
With my grafted trees at home I rub off the low stuff all summer trying to start training them young and getting them putting their growth up. That can be a fine line too with little trees...still want plenty of leaves to feed the roots good so they grow crazy.