Apple trees can be cut back for a number of reasons. Sometimes, people prune them to keep them a certain size or shape. Other times, they need to be cut back to get rid of diseased or dead branches.
How much you can cut back an apple tree depends on a few factors. The type of apple tree, the age of the tree, and the time of year all play a role in how much pruning can be done.
Generally speaking, apple trees can be cut back quite a bit without causing any serious harm. So, if you’re wondering how much you can cut back an apple tree, the answer is: quite a lot!
You can cut back an apple tree by up to one-third of its height.
Can you cut an apple tree way back?
Pruning is a vital part of tree care. It helps to remove dead, diseased, or broken branches, and can also help to lower the height of the tree by heading back large, upright-growing scaffold branches to outward-growing laterals. Up to 4 to 5 feet of growth can be removed in one year, but if it’s necessary to remove more top growth, it’s best to spread out the pruning over 2 or 3 years.
To encourage branching and the formation of fruiting spurs, shorten the previous year’s growth on each of the main branches by a quarter to one-third, cutting just above an outward-facing bud.
How do you keep an apple tree from growing too tall
If you want to reduce the height of a tree, you can either remove the tall, upright branches entirely, or cut them back to well-placed strong lateral branches that extend horizontally below the height of 18 feet. A chain saw is handy because these cuts generally involve removing limbs 6 inches or more in diameter.
Heading back the tree means cutting off 20 to 30 percent of last year’s growth. You can distinguish last year’s growth from two-year-old growth by the wrinkly ring of bark encircling each stem. Depending on the vigor of the tree, this may be anywhere from two inches to 4 feet back from the tip of each branch.
Can I cut the bottom branches off apple tree?
Apple tree suckers are small, fast-growing branches that can quickly overtake the tree if left unchecked. While they may not seem like a big deal at first, they can eventually strangle the tree and prevent it from bearing fruit. For this reason, it’s important to remove them as soon as you see them.
Standard apple trees should be pruned when the tree is dormant in winter, ideally between November and early March. Trained apple trees, like espaliers and fans, should be pruned in summer.
Can you cut off the top of a tree without killing it?
You can’t “stop” trees from growing tall by topping them. If you do succeed, you have killed them. A tree’s leaves manufacture its food (photosynthesis). Repeated removal of a tree’s food source literally starves the tree over time.
Topping a vertical branch encourages vegetative growth necessary for development of the tree and creates a bushing effect. Topping horizontal branches is done to renew fruiting wood and to thin off excessive fruit. Thinning vertical branches opens the tree to more light.
How tall should you let an apple tree grow
When planting apple trees, be sure to space them according to their height. Standard apples trees can grow to 20 or 30 feet tall and should be spaced 25 to 30 feet apart. Semi-dwarf trees can grow to 12 to 15 feet tall and should be spaced 15 feet apart. Dwarf trees can grow 6 to 10 feet tall and should be spaced 8 to 10 feet apart.
It is important to prune off the top of newly planted fruit trees in late April in order to encourage growth. Cut the tree at between 20 and 30 inches above the ground and trim back all other shoots and branches to 6 inches.
Can you control the size of an apple tree?
Apple and pear trees are traditionally grafted onto vigorous rootstocks, so older trees often grow very large. Although you can reduce the height and improve the tree’s appearance, and maybe also its fruiting, you are unlikely to be able to maintain it as a small tree.
The plant’s root system is its foundation, providing support and anchorage as well as taking in water and nutrients from the soil. A plant’s roots can develop rapidly, as seen in this example, allowing the plant to become well-established in a short period of time. With a strong root system in place, a plant can better withstand changes in its environment and is more likely to thrive.
How do you prune a fruit tree that is too tall
Pruning the tree to the same height annually is a great way to keep the tree healthy and maintain its shape. This method is especially effective if the tree is structurally sound but taller than you can manage safely. By reducing the tree height slowly over a three-year period, you can keep the tree looking its best without having to worry about it becoming too tall.
Pruning a tree during its dormant period is best for the tree and easiest for you. It’s easier to see where to make your cuts when the leaves have fallen. Pruning should be done in late fall, winter, or early spring.
What branches do you prune on an apple tree?
When pruning, you should aim to remove weak, diseased, injured, or narrow-angle branches. You should also remove the weaker of any crossing or interfering branches, and one branch of forked limbs. In addition, you should remove upright branches and any that sweep back inward toward the center of the tree.
Summer pruning of apples and pears helps the fruit to ripen evenly and also ensures a good crop the following year. This type of pruning is also known as ‘cordon’ pruning and is the most common method used for restricted forms such as cordons, espaliers, fans and pyramids.
Warp Up
You can cut an apple tree back by up to 1/3 of its height without causing any permanent damage.
You can cut back an apple tree by up to one-third of its height without causing any long-term damage.
