1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Gardening

Maintenance Pruning an Overgrown Apple Tree

From Marie Iannotti, About.com

Pruning apple trees brings fear and trepidation to gardeners. Pruning apple trees improves the tree's vigor and fruit production. But it just seems so complicated. Take heart. It is almost impossible to kill a tree by pruning it. And most of the intimidating pruning takes place the first 3 years of an apple tree's life. Conquer that and you're 90% done.

You want to accomplish 2 things with maintenance pruning of your apple tree

  1. Encourage fruiting spurs

  2. Open the branches so that sunlight and air can reach all the ripening fruit

Images 1-9 of 9

How to Prune Apple Trees - Fruiting SpursThe Main Point Behind Pruning Apple TreesApple Tree Pruning - Removing Dead and Diseased WoodRemove Any Wood that is Unproductive and Attracts ProblemsHow to Prune Apple Trees - Removing Suckers and Water SproutsPruning & Removing Suckers from Apple Tree BranchesPruning Apple Trees - Removing Low BranchesPruning Low Branches
Pruning Apple Trees - Downward Facing BranchesPruning Out Future ProblemsApple Tree Pruning - Competing LeadersKeeping Your Apple Tree Pruned to One Main LeaderOutward Facing Bud PhotoHow to Prune Apple Trees - Thinning Inside BranchesClearing the Clutter
The Final Effect - A Well Pruned Apple TreeHere's What You're Aiming For
  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Gardening
  4. Vegetables, Fruits & More
  5. Fruits (Tree Fruits)
  6. How to Prune an Overgrown Apple Tree>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.