An apple tree in the garden will usually provide a certain amount of apples in the fall, even without any intervention. However, regular pruning not only promotes the harvest, but also the health of the tree.
The cut in winter
The pruning of the apple tree in winter is usually the most important intervention of the whole year. Since the tree is dormant between December and the beginning of March, wounds from the pruning can heal relatively quickly and without problems in mild temperatures. In addition, after thinning out in winter, the entire energy of the tree is concentrated on the budding of the remaining buds and flowers. Since there are no leaves blocking the view of the main branches and branches of the tree in winter, you can also better recognize and correct deformities in the tree crown at this time of year. This will make it easier for you to shape the tree and give it the desired size and height. If larger branches are removed during winter pruning in order to obtain a tree crown that is permeable to light and air, the cuts must not be made exactly horizontally. Otherwise, standing rainwater on branch stumps could create a breeding ground for various fungal diseases.
The cut in summer
Even when pruning in summer, the branches should always be cut off in such a way that they have a compact shape with sufficient stability for a high fruit load. For this purpose, the cut should always be made in such a way that a pair of buds or leaves at the upper branching end points outwards. Also remove branches that grow too close to a branch and don't extend at an angle of at least 45 degrees. Summer is usually also the right time to remove the water shoots that rise up from the top of the treetop into the sky. Otherwise, these would only cost the tree unnecessary energy, which it needs for the ripening of sweet and aromatic fruits. Summer pruning should not be carried out during periods of extreme heat, and the tree must then be regularly and sufficiently watered.
The pruning of the apple tree in autumn
Even in autumn it doesn't hurt to check the apple tree in the garden for any malformations. At this time, when cutting, you should pay attention to the following things in the first place:
- inward growing branches
- fruit mummies
- dry branches
Due to a high fruit load, branches can sometimes break off under the weight of the apples. These can be recognized in autumn by their withered leaves and easily removed. Fruit mummies on the branches indicate a disease or fungus and should definitely be removed and removed. If branches that have grown inwards are removed from the crown of the tree in autumn, the remaining branches will receive enough light for new shoots in spring.
tips and tricks
The pruning should be carried out with sharp planting scissors with a clean cutting edge so that the cuts can heal well. Provide very thick branch cuts with a suitable preparation from a specialist shop so that no pathogens can penetrate the tree.