Apple tree pruning advice

[Kayleigh]

I want this twig to grow into a lollipop shape....
I planted it two years ago and have not touched it.
Any advice great fully received..




Thanks
Elaine
ps

it was bought as dwarf and was only supposed to grow 6ft..its about 9ft now the fence is 6ft..

[Hedera]

Oh dear! Poor you. Someone must have mixed up the grafting stock. It's a bit late now the tree has flowered and maybe set fruit, but you can do a "Juneprune" by taking the tips of the leaders back one-third to an outward facing bud. That will halt it a little, and then do a January prune by cutting back to say six buds. Have you got a ladder???

[Kayleigh]

Hi Hedera, Its not the size that worries me its the shape....
I got it from "parker bulbs" cheep so just be careful where you get your plants from..

The thing is I kill everything I prune so I'm a little bit scared to go near it.
and have no idea how to go about it..
If I prune in June I take it any fruit will be pruned away..
So can I leave it till Autumn to get the lollipop shape..

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Hi Hedera, Its not the size that worries me its the shape....
I got it from "parker bulbs" cheep so just be careful where you get your plants from..

The thing is I kill everything I prune so I'm a little bit scared to go near it.
and have no idea how to go about it..
If I prune in June I take it any fruit will be pruned away..
So can I leave it till Autumn to get the lollipop shape..

Hi Kayleigh

The old adage is "prune in summer for shape, winter for fruit". So however you want to train it into shape do so in July and then cut each branch back to a few buds in January.

Success in keeping it trim is somewhat (or largely!!) dependent on the rootstock.

There are plenty of websites out there giving more details

All the best

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ceterach

Hi Kayleigh

The old adage is "prune in summer for shape, winter for fruit". So however you want to train it into shape do so in July and then cut each branch back to a few buds in January.

Success in keeping it trim is somewhat (or largely!!) dependent on the rootstock.

There are plenty of websites out there giving more details

All the best

Thank you both....

I will have a go as I don't like the long and leggy way its growing I would like to reach the fruit and have nice compact tree.

Will this need doing every year..

[Jim Ford]

I don't think a 'lollipop shape' is conducive for good fruiting.

You should try to keep the shape low and spreading. Low so you can harvest the fruit, and spreading to allow light and air into the middle of the tree. A good adage I heard a long time ago is that 'you should be able to throw your hat into the middle of the tree'.

Beware of pruning too hard in one go, as the tree will tend to produce lots of vertical unproductive shoots (called 'water shoots').

Jim

[Kayleigh]

Thanks Jim,

as its a young tree with long stems I thought it will keep growing like this if I don't act soon.
I saw on gardeners world you have to take out the middle crossing branches to open up the middle to let the air/light in..



All the growth seems to be at the top..do I just chop it of..
I have cropped the pic so it gives a better view .

[Hedera]

Hi Kayleigh,
It seems to be a very vigorous growing tree: what variety is it? The rootstock is probably an M9 so it shouldn't be "up there"! I don't think pruning will hurt it, so take your courage and secateurs in both hands! Wait till end of June and see if any fruit has set: it's always best to get rid of most in the first year anyway, then you can "tip" prune it. Not many bees about this year so can't see many on my trees. Can't tell from your pic how far up the main trunk the first branch occurs, or is tree leaning.
I always like to give things a chance - am a sucker for the bargain lots which might be "rescued".

[Kayleigh]

Just been to have a look, the main trunk is growing upright the one going off to left in the pic is the first branch and that is about 2ft up the main trunk..
I have no idea of the variety but its a desert as we got one or two apples last year but most fell off.

There was what looked like a runner coming from the bottom last year so I pruned this to ground level thinking its the root stock trying to take over..
I wonder if that was the dwarf and I chopped the wrong bit..

[Hedera]

If it's a dessert apple you may get away with shortening that long slanting branch and hope it sends some shoots upwards into a more tidy position. Do it in January when dormant, as well as cutting back the others a bit. Cheers!