{"id":4417,"date":"2023-04-02T20:46:25","date_gmt":"2023-04-02T19:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/?p=4417"},"modified":"2023-04-02T20:46:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T19:46:25","slug":"how-much-can-you-cut-back-an-apple-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/how-much-can-you-cut-back-an-apple-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How much can you cut back an apple tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

You can cut back an apple tree by up to one-third of its height.<\/p>\n

Can you cut an apple tree way back? <\/h2>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

How do you keep an apple tree from growing too tall <\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Can I cut the bottom branches off apple tree? <\/h2>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Can you cut off the top of a tree without killing it? <\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

How tall should you let an apple tree grow <\/h3>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

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.