For full development, growth and obtaining a high yield, it is necessary to periodically prune fruit trees in the garden area. This applies primarily to apple trees, which need to be pruned in early spring. The purpose of pruning all fruit trees is to form a neat and slender crown, the top of which will be short twigs and the bottom long twigs.
Why do you need pruning
- Updating the tiered system;
- Formation of a uniform crown for rational harvesting;
- Removal of old, dry branches affected by pests and diseases;
- Providing the same illumination inside the crown.
To maintain the stability of the trunk and regulate the growth of branches, it is necessary to constantly maintain the shape of the crown. Unkempt trees will not be able to give normal fruiting. It is not necessary to allow the overgrowth or exposure of the upper part of the crown. Branches can break under the weight of the fruit. The correct crown shape makes harvesting easier and creates the conditions for optimal growth of the entire tree.
Optimal time to prune an apple tree
Such events are carried out, as a rule, after the end of the autumn season or in early spring during the formation of the first buds.
Spring is considered a favorable time for pruning, because gardeners can remove dry and frost-affected branches at the same time. This rejuvenation contributes to the active saturation of the tree with a sunny color, useful substances and allows it to quickly recover. Wounds after slices heal better, the process of the appearance of buds and flowers is accelerated.
Pruning seedlings
For growing in the garden, two-year-old apple seedlings are often chosen. They must be cut immediately after planting in open ground.
Even with the most careful movement to a new place, the root system of a young tree is disturbed, therefore pruning makes it possible to rationally distribute nutrients and water between leaves, branches and roots. Correct pruning is the basis for the formation of the future crown of an adult tree.
It can be repeated only in the spring of next year; for this, three or five strong healthy branches are left, located at an angle to the main trunk. They will make up the skeletal frame of the apple tree. After a while, the grown shoots are cut in such a way that the wide branches are at the bottom, and the short ones are closer to the crown. The trunk should not be cut too short, it should stand out among the secondary branches. When the main trunk is bifurcated, only one part is left, and the second process is removed. All shoots growing at an acute angle to it must also be eliminated in order to ensure further fruiting, which will not harm the tree. If you leave these branches, then, most likely, they will break under the weight of the fruit.
Pruning perennial trees
After a few years, the apple tree forms a permanent crown, so pruning must be carried out with extreme caution.It is impossible to severely injure the tree and remove a large number of fruiting branches. This can interfere with the apple tree's ability to produce high yields.
With the onset of spring, the apple trees growing in the garden should be carefully checked and any forked trunks should be cut off.
Mature three-year-old trees are cut at the height of the second tier. If the largest branches have increments that will form a tiered system in the future, then they are also neatly shortened. Do not remove such vegetative parts of the apple tree as rings, ringlets, bouquet twigs, spurs and fruit twigs. Upon reaching the age of five, the apple trees stop growing the crown.
A garden shear, pruner, delimber or saw to remove thick branches is used as a special gardening tool. They must be well sharpened and have a convenient configuration so as not to inconvenience the gardener and to spare the tree as much as possible. A quality tool leaves smooth and even cuts that heal faster.
Slicing processing
Slices of young trees must be painted with oil paint every other day in order to prevent rotting or pest infestation, or treat them with a lime solution with the addition of copper sulfate. Slices of old apple trees are immediately processed with garden varnish before sap flow begins.
Pruning apple trees during fruiting
To support and rejuvenate the tree when the first fruits appear, it is necessary to remove the dense deciduous growths, which create an obstacle to the penetration of sunlight into the crown of the apple tree. Because of this, the process of saturation of nutrients with fruits slows down, they mature later or begin to rot due to lack of light. The most practical way is to remove a couple of large thickening branches, rather than cutting off some small twigs.
As recommendations for novice gardeners, it is worth noting the fact that it is possible to achieve the correct development of the apple tree and, accordingly, obtain a high yield, only with spring pruning of the tree. Without annual maintenance of the garden, the fruits will shrink and be reborn.
In conclusion, it should be added that you can achieve an effective result in the struggle for a good harvest if you diligently follow all the advice of experienced specialists in the field of horticulture. Do not neglect the regular pruning of apple trees in order to delight yourself and loved ones with delicious fruits every year.
