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The pruning of each variety of apple trees should be approached individually, taking into account the age, structural features of the branches and the frequency of fruiting. So when and how to prune a young apple tree? Let’s get acquainted with the general rules.
Pruning young apple trees is an important and very complex agricultural technique. It is from him that the appearance of the tree and its yield will depend in the future. The crown must be properly formed, which will contribute to high fertility and presentation of the fruit. If pruning is not carried out or carried out out of time, this will lead to an overload of the branches and their fragility, the fruits will become of poor quality, fruiting will be periodic, and the winter hardiness of the tree will decrease significantly.
When to cut?
Regardless of whether the apple tree was planted in autumn or spring, its pruning will be the same. It is advisable to proceed in the spring in early March, while the kidneys have not yet awakened. It is during this period that pruning will be formative and will contribute to proper growth and high yields in the future.
It is possible to carry out pruning in the fall, then it will be of a sanitary and preventive nature. You can start it only at a certain time period: as soon as the leaves fall. And it must be completed before the first frost. This must be remembered, because if pruning is carried out at sub-zero temperatures, this will negatively affect the vital activity of the tree, since the resulting cut will not have time to overgrow and freeze.
During summer pruning, as a rule, the shoots of the current year are shortened. It promotes the emergence of fruit buds, for the better affects the size and color of the fetus.
In no case do not prune in the winter, this is strictly contraindicated. After all, winter is a time when all trees are at rest, all vital processes slow down and they cannot heal even a minor wound. And an unprotected trunk is a gateway for various diseases.
Pruning annual apple trees
In order to help form the side shoots of an unbranched apple tree that was planted this year, it should be cut correctly, namely, remove all side branches at a distance of one meter from the surface of the earth. As soon as the side shoots appear, the time will come for the formation of the crown.
If the one-year-old seedling is branched, in this case, the side shoots must be removed up to 70 centimeters from the surface of the earth. If the shoots grow higher, cut off only those that form an acute angle with the tree trunk. This must be done so that in the future these branches do not bend or break from the weight of the fruit. If the situation requires you to save the shoots, then you need to delay them. To do this, use stretch marks. It is better to do this in the summer, when the shoots are very pliable and flexible. In the event that they are located at an angle close to 90 degrees, the removal occurs up to the third or fifth bud from the base of the shoot. If the shoot has a wide angle, then in the future such a branch will provide the seedling with a strong and durable crown.
It is also important that an apple tree with an almost horizontal arrangement of branches will begin to bear fruit earlier. If it grows quickly, then you need to cut off the conductor, only its length should be higher than the length of the side shoots, so it is often called the leader. If this is not done, then each new tier of branches will be located at a great distance from the previous ones. It is desirable that the leading shoot exceed the lateral ones in height by at least 20 centimeters. In the event that the conductor is damaged or underdeveloped, the strongest of the upper branches is used instead. With the help of a garter to the leader, it must be given a vertical position.
If a competing shoot grows in parallel with the conductor, it is either cut off or pulled almost to the horizontal level.
Thus, a rounded, natural and very strong crown is obtained.
For the next 3-5 years, it is better not to disturb the apple tree and not resort to pruning the shoots. Otherwise, fruiting may be delayed. But if the tree has diseased or broken shoots, then it must be rejuvenated. Such branches are cut at the very base.
One of the main rules when pruning annual seedlings is subordination, when older branches should be stronger than those that grow on them, and nothing else. Otherwise, strong young shoots must be shortened to slow down growth. However, one-year-old shoots of a young tree should not be severely pruned, because this will cause a dense crown to appear and delay the fruiting process. It is necessary to shorten only those shoots that reach 70 centimeters and carry out pruning on the outer bud, since it is from it that a shoot will form in the future, growing outward, and not inside the crown. At the same time, pay attention to the type of wood and its tendency to thicken. If the apple tree variety is not prone to a dense crown, then it is cut to the inner kidney.
Pruning annual apple tree seedlings (video)
This video will show you how to properly prune annual apple tree seedlings.
Pruning biennial apple trees
Such a tree is a trunk and a few outgoing shoots. When pruning, you need to choose 4-5 of the strongest and strongest shoots that have a wide angle. You don’t need to touch them, because these are the main and main branches of the tree. All others must be shortened. Above the most developed kidney, it is necessary to form a central conductor. It should rise above the skeletal branches by 5 buds, be strong and vertically growing. The shoots are cut as follows: the branches located below should be longer (up to 30 centimeters), and the upper ones should be shorter. Branches similar in strength and growth rate are subject to removal, because these are competitors. To form a crown, it will be enough to leave 4 skeletal branches. They should be located evenly near the stem and move away from it at an angle of at least 60 degrees. This will form a round and strong crown of a two-year-old seedling. As the apple tree grows, you will need to lay a couple more skeletal branches. The first should be half a meter higher from the lower tier. All subsequent ones are higher, 30-40 centimeters apart. Make sure that pruning prevents branches from crossing and promotes a spacious crown.
Pruning of any one-year-old or two-year-old seedling must be done with a sharp, preferably garden knife, and not with a pruner. Do not forget to process all cuts. To do this, use garden pitch, oil paint is also suitable, only based on drying oil.
Remember that only healthy and strong trees should be pruned. The weak will not be able to endure this procedure. Their wounds will heal for a long time, and as a result, the apple tree will die or will not bear fruit.
Pruning correctly and enjoy the harmonious look of your garden and the harvest from it.
Pruning two-year-old apple tree seedlings (video)
This video will show you how to properly prune two-year-old apple tree seedlings.