When to prune apple trees

If you grow apple trees in your yard or orchard, you will need to prune them regularly to promote fruit growth. Fortunately, timing the trim is not a tricky process.

Prune apple trees in the late winter or early spring. These fruit trees require pruning each year while they are dormant or are just coming out of dormancy. In many apple-growing climates, pruning is done in late February or early March. That said, you can (and should) remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches as soon as they are observed, no matter what time of year.

Read on to learn all about timing the annual pruning of an apple tree.

When to prune apple trees

The best time to prune your apple trees is when the trees are dormant. This usually occurs in late winter. Typically you want to prune the trees in late February or early March, depending on the frost in your area.

Late winter is the best time for pruning apple trees for a few reasons. For starters, the buds are easier to see and work around as you prune any lateral branches. The wound cuts also have more time to heal and dry before insects arrive in the spring. You don’t want insects and pests making homes in your growing fruit trees when spring comes around. Here is a guide detailing how to prune apple trees.

You can also do some light pruning in the summertime to promote the formation of fruit buds for the next growing season. The key word here is light! This also lets light and air circulation into the canopy of the tree as the fruit ripens. Summer pruning should not be overdone, as this will lead to a weak tree, decreased harvest, and the possibility of snapped branches.

When to prune young fruit trees

If you have young fruit trees, they have different pruning requirements than mature fruit trees. Prune your young apple trees in late winter or early spring. Pay attention to the frost timing in your local area.

Young fruit trees should be pruned with one of three pruning methods. These include central leader, modified central leader, or open center methods. These train the tree to grow in the best way and promote fruit growth.

Only do as much pruning as is necessary to create the basic shape you want. Don’t prune any more than you have to, as this can delay fruiting on your precious trees. You may be tempted to over-prune, but over-pruning is no good for trees in bloom. Summer pruning is most likely unnecessary with young trees since their growth will be limited until they are established.

When to prune mature fruit trees

Prune mature fruit trees in late winter or early spring by removing water shoots and any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Those dead and diseased branches will get in the way of the proper growth of living branches.

The stubby fruiting spur branches typically grow only off the branches that are a minimum of two years old, so don’t remove more branches than you have to. Let them grow more before pruning them in future years.

During dormancy, thin out any overly long stems that have grown quickly near the top of the tree. This is especially true for vertical “water shoots.” Also, remove any weak trigs hanging down from the branches.

Remove old declining limbs so that a younger limb can grow in its place. It’s important to trim any branches or limbs that are no longer growing to make room for new growth on your apple trees.

Why should I prune my apple tree?

There are many benefits to pruning your apple tree. First of all, it removes any diseased limbs or branches that have damage. These keep sunlight and air out from the center of the tree and result in less fruit production.

Secondly, pruning your fruit tree allows you to have a more manageable height for apple picking. If the branches are overgrown, you will need a ladder to reach the apples at the top. This isn’t an issue for everyone but may present problems as the tree grows.

Third, pruning helps produce a strong structure for the tree, resulting in better fruit. A stronger tree means tastier fruit and more vigorous growth. The faster the fruit grows, the faster you can harvest it.

Finally, pruning an apple tree encourages new limbs to grow. These brand-new branches will lead to healthier fruit and keep your tree from becoming susceptible to disease. No one wants a diseased tree on their hands.

Do I have to prune apple trees?

Apple trees make great shade trees, and some people like them in their yards simply for decoration. If you want to use these trees for shade and don’t care about fruit production, pruning isn’t entirely necessary.

Apple tree pruning is mostly done to get your tree to bear fruit throughout the growing season. Dead or diseased branches need to be removed to make room for new buds and fresh fruit. If you leave the tree in your yard, some fruit may blossom, but it won’t be as much as if you prune it regularly.

Clean your tools and keep them clean

Whether you use hand pruners, loppers, or a saw, keep your tools clean. After pruning your tree branches, dip your tools in isopropyl alcohol or Lysol cleaning solution and allow them to dry completely.

This will disinfect the metal and keep them from rusting over time. Be sure to let them dry completely or dry them with a clean cloth before storing them away. Cleaning your tools will prevent cross-contamination or any fungal diseases or problems that plants may have.

If you are worried about rust, use a small amount of solvent on a clean rag to keep moving parts lubricated. This should help, so your tools are ready to use as soon as you pull them out of storage each season.

Learn about appropriate spacing for fruit trees with my apple tree spacing guide.

FAQs about when to prune apple trees

References

• University of Saskatchewan: Apples
• The University of Maryland: Training and Pruning Apple and Pear Trees
• Penn State University: Pruning and Training Apple Trees