In the past, cottage gardens and allotments were generally dominated by apple trees planted in the middle with classic standard trunks. Today, however, there are hardly any limits to the imagination when shaping an apple tree.

When buying with the variety and growth habit decide the later development

Today's specialist retailers not only stock a large number of different early or late fruiting apple varieties for a healthy harvest in your own garden. The stem forms of the grafting and growth height range from the low bush to the medium-high half stem to the classic high stem, under which the lawn can be mowed comfortably upright. Young apple trees and self-grown seedlings can also be shaped into miniature trees in pots and fruit on espaliers if pruning starts early enough.

Important measures when cutting

Ideally, a free-standing apple tree with a naturally formed crown should be pruned roughly round from a certain age. This is the best way to achieve the maxim of a light and airy tree crown with good accessibility for the autumn harvest. When pruning in winter, you should make sure to leave branches at an angle of at least 45 degrees to the main branch, as these are ideal for bearing the fruit. During the summer pruning, pruning mistakes from the winter can be corrected and the power- and sap-sapping water shoots at the upper end of the tree crown can be removed. When cutting off larger branches for the rejuvenation cut, you should ensure that the wound is adequately cared for so that diseases do not become unnecessary targets.

Make a trellis out of apple trees

In order to be able to form a visually appealing trellis from young apple trees, the following work steps are necessary:

  • fasten stable pegs in a row in the substrate
  • pull in the tension wires in between in a horizontal and possibly also a vertical direction
  • plant the saplings with sufficient distance along the trellis
  • Cut the branches of the apple trees into shape and attach them to the retaining wires with raffia

A well-cut trellis gets ideal sun exposure and ventilation, allowing it to produce particularly sweet and juicy apples.

tips and tricks

Apple trees grown from seeds are often very vigorous, which is why they are only partially suitable as trees for a trellis or for cutting into smaller shapes.

Category:

Trees