Is it possible to prune apple trees in autumn in Siberia

To get a good harvest of fragrant and beautiful fruits, the apple tree must be pruned annually. It is generally accepted that in cold climates, pruning of trees should be done only in the spring, but this is not true. Even in the conditions of Siberia, you can successfully cut an apple tree in the fall. In the proposed section, we will discuss all the nuances and rules of autumn pruning of apple trees in a harsh climate. Our recommendations and advice will be useful not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners.

Why prune an apple tree

To get a good harvest of fruits, it is not enough just to plant a young seedling and wait for the result. It is important to engage in the formation of a plant from the very beginning of its cultivation. This will allow you to form a beautiful crown of a fruit tree, making it a decorative element of your garden. In addition to external changes, pruning will allow:

• To improve the plant, prevent the development of diseases and parasitism of insects.
• Properly distribute the flow of nutrients in the body of the fruit tree.
• Increase the quantity and quality of fruits.
• Provide access to sunlight to each branch of the tree, which will contribute to the uniform ripening of apples.
• Improve air circulation in the inner “cap” of the crown and prevent the development of rot.
• Make fruit branches strong and reliable.

If you do not control the growth of the apple tree, then soon a sprawling plant will reduce the amount of fruiting or stop blooming altogether. Also, the result of the formation of excess greenery can be a breakdown of branches and the death of a fruit tree.

Pruning of apple trees is carried out depending on the age and condition of the fruit tree. The following types of trimming are distinguished:

1. Wellness.
2. Anti-aging.
3. Molding.

All three types of pruning can be done in the fall. At the same time, it is very important to choose the right time period and follow the basic principles of work. We will try to highlight all the nuances of pruning apple trees in autumn in Siberia for beginners and experienced gardeners later in the article.

The best time for pruning

Fruit trees should be pruned when they are at rest: in late autumn or early spring. Autumn pruning is considered more gentle, because before the onset of spring, all wounds on the wood will heal and the plant will grow without delay and stress. Under the condition of low winter temperatures, rot, diseases do not develop on the cut, pests do not parasitize. Thus, the question of whether it is possible to prune apple trees in the fall has a definite answer: it is possible and necessary!

Given the length of the autumn period, it is important to determine the exact timing of when to prune trees. The time must be chosen so that there are no more leaves on the apple tree, and 3-4 weeks remain before frost. Under such conditions, the movement of juice in the body of the plant has already been stopped, and there is no threat of freezing.

It is worth noting that some gardeners also prune fruit trees in winter, but this is fraught with damage to the skin, breakage of fragile branches, and partial freezing of the crown of the plant.

Pruning apple trees depending on the age of the plant

A young apple tree is considered to be up to 4 years old. At this time, you need to regularly, every autumn, prune the tree so that its crown is correctly formed. An old apple tree is called an apple tree, the age of which has reached 20 years. Such fruit trees reduce yields and produce poor quality fruits. To restore vitality to the apple tree, it needs to be rejuvenated by deep pruning. In the period from 4 to 20 years, a fruit tree requires molding and sanitary pruning. How to properly prune a tree at a certain age can be found in the sections below.

Pruning young trees

To make it easier for beginners to understand the principle of pruning young apple trees, we will provide a picture that clearly demonstrates the crown sections to be removed.

Depending on the age, the following sections of the crown are removed on the apple tree:

1. A one-year-old seedling often does not have side branches, so it is recommended to cut its top so that a few buds remain below, which will eventually become skeletal branches.
2. In the second year, you need to form the skeleton of an apple tree by removing excess branches. Leave only 2-3 side branches. They are recommended to be cut to about 1/3 of the length. This will allow them to grow faster.
3. In the third year, you need to thin out the crown, leaving last year’s branches and cutting new shoots by a third. Branches growing down or at a very sharp angle to the surface of the trunk must be removed.
4. In the fourth year, you need to duplicate all the operations that were performed in the third year of growing the seedling. Branches that excessively thicken the crown of the tree are also subject to removal.

Depending on the variety, the apple tree can form branches in moderate and large quantities. Some hybrids are distinguished by self-regulation of green mass growth. For varieties with a lush crown, it is very important to correctly form the crown of an apple tree in the first 4 years. In this case, further pruning of the tree will not be difficult.

Pruning adult apple trees

Adult apple trees need to be pruned annually, removing broken, dry and diseased branches, excess crown. When carrying out the operation, it is important to follow the principles and rules of trimming. For beginners in gardening, it is very convenient to use ready-made schemes for the formation of adult apple trees.

We will try to consider the main ones in more detail:

• Tiered discharge scheme suggests the presence of skeletal branches arranged in 3-4 tiers. The branches in each tier should be shorter than the branches in the previous tier. Thus, the natural outline of the fruit tree will be preserved, each branch will receive enough sunlight.

  

• Spindle pattern involves the placement of branches in a spiral. It is necessary to begin such formation from the first years of growing a seedling. Each branch on the tree should be located above the previous branch with an offset of 40-50⁰.

  

• bowl scheme involves leaving 4-6 skeletal branches. Each of them should be shortened by a third from year to year. In this case, the main shoot should be pinched at a height of 70-90 cm.

  

• Diagram of a vertical palmette suitable for low-growing apple trees that require a garter. In this case, horizontal supports are fixed on the wall of the building, to which fragile branches of a fruit tree are tied.

  

At the time of planting an apple tree, you already need to think about which formation scheme will be convenient to use in the future. The decorative qualities of the plant, its fertility and vitality depend on the scheme. Having chosen the formation scheme, it is enough to remove the corresponding branches from year to year to get a beautiful, healthy tree with abundant fruiting.

Rejuvenation of old trees

Healthy apple trees that have reached the age of 20 years can be rejuvenated by removing most of the crown. If the tree is sick, then such a procedure is likely to be pointless.

It takes several years to rejuvenate old apple trees. Global removal or excessive shortening of branches can lead to the death of the fruit tree. So, two schemes of rejuvenation can be distinguished:

1. The traditional scheme recommends cutting the skeletal branches on the old tree in half for several years. In general terms, the shape of the crown should resemble a triangle, as shown in the picture below. Pruning of branches should be carried out in stages over 3-4 years. At one time, no more than 2 meters can be cut from a branch.

   

2. A modern way to rejuvenate old apple trees will also take 3-5 years. The first stage of the work is the removal of the crown from the south side of the tree. You need to leave a “cap” 2 m wide and 3 m high. After the branches on the south side of the apple tree grow and bear the first fruits, you need to carry out such pruning on the north side.

   

Rejuvenation of apple trees is an excellent alternative to planting young seedlings. After deep pruning, the tree with renewed vigor builds up a lush green crown, begins to actively bear fruit. At the same time, the yield and quality of the fruits of the crop will noticeably improve.

The formation of trees depends largely not only on the preferences of the gardener and the tendency of the variety to form branches, but also on the tallness of the fruit trees. Some apple trees in the absence of formation can grow up to 12 m tall. You can determine the required height for trimming based on the following table.

Thus, we have tried to give graphical and textual, detailed information that will allow a novice gardener to understand the principle of pruning and choose the best crown formation scheme depending on the age of the apple tree.

Basic rules for pruning trees

To trim a tree correctly and cause minimal damage to the plant, you need to follow some important rules. They are suitable for both autumn and spring pruning:

1. In one season, you can not cut more than three large branches. That is why it is recommended to form fruit trees from the first years of planting so that you do not have to “clean” the crown of neglected plants.
2. It is better to pinch a branch at an early stage of development than to cut it off later.
3. Dry, broken and diseased branches must be cut to healthy, fresh wood.
4. Do not leave stumps on the tree. The cut of the branches should be carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the skin on the stem or the left healthy branch.
5. The cut on the branch must be done at an angle towards the kidney (picture below).
6. When forming the crown, you need to use only a sharp and clean tool.
7. All sections should be protected with garden pitch.
8. Weak branches need to be cut deep so that they grow stronger. Vigorous branches need light pruning.
9. When pruning branches, you can not climb a tree, because you can harm yourself and the plant in this way. To get to the very top of the plant, you should use a ladder.
10. To remove small branches, you must use a pruner.
11. Branch pruning should start from the bottom. After a shallow incision is made, you can finish the wood from above. In this case, the branch, when broken, will not damage the wood on the mother trunk.

The correct and incorrect ways of pruning shoots above the kidney, as well as the consequences of an erroneous operation, are shown in the picture:

In addition to the information suggested above, beginners can be advised to watch the video:

The video clearly shows the whole process of pruning apple trees in the fall. Having compared all the important points, having studied the pruning rules and choosing the best time for the event, you need to sharpen the tool and get down to business. We wish every gardener good luck and a good harvest.