It stops branches from getting long and gangly.

Pruning Apple Trees 3 When to Prune If you have a small orchard, delay pruning until it’s nearly spring. Allow for rain and bad weather, but plan to be finished pruning by May 1 or in time to begin spraying. In many larger orchards, the pruning begins soon after harvest and continues through to spring.

Many nurseries sell larger potted apple trees that already have branches.

Old trees are pruned first and young trees are left until March and. Feb 25, February 25, This young apple tree needs some light pruning. Hello there, fruit growers. We know you’re looking for an excuse to break out your pruning shears for the gardening season. Good news - it is time to prune your fruit trees! Jul 23, When to Prune Apple Trees. Although apple tree trimming may be accomplished any time of the year, late winter to very early spring is most advisable (March and April), after the worst of the cold snaps to minimize possible injury due to frost.

Dormant pruning is done during the winter, as late as possible, to avoid damage that harsh conditions could cause. In the spring, the apple tree will use a lot of its energy by regenerating new growth. This reduces the energy that would otherwise go into producing fruit.

Dwarf trees typically grow 10 to 12 feet, while a standard tree is best kept at 14 to 16 feet high. Prune the central leader annually so it is slightly higher than the nearest branch. It should always be the highest branch on the tree. Jun 06, When to Prune an Apple Tree. Mature apple trees will tell you when they need of rigorous pruning because the fruit output begins to diminish. Most fruit trees grown in home gardens are spurring types.

A spur is a short 3- to 5-inch branch where the apple tree flowers and sets fruit. Mar 05, When to Prune Apple Trees. Apple trees can be pruned anytime after the leaves have fallen, but it’s best to wait until the extreme cold days of winter have passed but before any new growth has started. Sub-zero temperatures can cause the cuts not to close correctly, which can lead to black rot.

Feb 12, Always prune just outside the branch collar – the point where one branch leaves a larger one (or the trunk), as shown here.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Late winter, from mid-February until early March, is the best time to prune most trees. Trees are still dormant at this time of year and, unlike in early winter, wound closure will be rapid if pruning occurs just prior to the time new growth emerges.