I don't know if it's the same for most trees, but I've got an oak in my front yard that I cut unruly limbs from and then paint the cut spot w/ treekote and they heal over completely in a year to 1 1/2 years. By 3 years from time of cut, I can't see where the cut was, save for a slight change in the bark pattern. I don't know if apple trees heal the same or not.