How to Prune your Apple Trees

January and February can often be dull and dreary, but there are always jobs to do in the garden!

Getting out and about in the fresh air can do you wonders, too - according to an article on time.com, 'spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces, is one of the fastest ways to improve your health and happiness. It's been shown to lower stress, blood pressure and heart rate, while encouraging physical activity and buoying mood and mental health'

Here at the farm, there's never a dull moment and it can sometimes feel like 12 months a year is not enough time to get everything done. The months of January, February and March are perfect for pruning our apple trees. Pruning the apple trees every winter will ensure a good crop of fruiting branches. 

We have 200 acres of lined apple orchards in Herefordshire, so pruning our trees is something of a military operation! But below I've shared my Top 5 Tips that you can apply to your own trees, whether you are an orchard owner or whether you have a solitary tree in the garden. Failure to prune annually can result in congested trees that become less productive.

How much should I take off?

As a guide, you're looking at taking off between 10-20% of the overall canopy, each winter. If you spot young, vigorous twigs that shoot skywards then you've got 'watershoots'. Too many of these can lead to over-crowding so snip them off at origin. Otherwise, you're just thinning out the tree a bit - shortening branches here and there in crowded areas.

The ideal scenario is to have an open centre in your apple tree; this allows more light in, helping to ripen shoots and fruit, whilst the roomy middle makes for better circulation of the air - reducing the risk of disease.

What Do I Need?

On that note; make sure your tools are clean and ready for the job - you can brush blades with milk which has antibacterial properties - and a sharp pair of secateurs and/or a pruning saw will make life a lot easier.

If you're not feeling confident, then start with just removing small amounts. Your confidence will build year-on-year and you'll be an expert pruner in no time! There are some great tips on the RHS website and a useful video, here.

My Top Tips for Pruning Your Apple Trees

1. Pruning should take place during the months of January, February and March.

2. Prune off any deadwood on the underside of the tree receiving no sunlight.

3. Open up more daylight in the tree by removing any branches growing too tight or inter wound.

4. Branches should be removed from all angles of the tree so it looks balanced from all viewpoints.

5. Keep the tree at a manageable height so it doesn’t overwhelm your garden or house.

Good luck and most importantly, have fun!