Cut back the tree a little, to ensure your tree is not overloaded. Remove the shoots which compete with the stem and shorten three to four boughs which help to form the crown. It promotes tree growth and defines the tree crown.

This type of pruning is best suited for young, freshly planted trees. When you plant your tree, you are already determining how it will grow later, and you can guide how it grows each time you prune it. This makes it easy to dispose of your waste by composting it or putting it in an organic waste bin.ĭepending on how old your apple tree is, it may need to be pruned in a specific way to grow well and develop decent fruit later. A chipper is useful for grinding up all the branch and twig clippings. Step 5: After you've removed, shortened or redirected all the branches and twigs, you just need to dispose of the clippings. Use a saw to cut larger branches and work in two steps: first saw from below and then from above to avoid damaging the bark. When pruning, ensure you cut at a downward-facing 45-degree angle and that you make your cut above a bud or a branch collar. Make sure your ladder is stable and positioned on solid ground. Applying some shear spray can protect them from tree sap or resin. Step 3: Take your pruning shears and prepare them for use. This will make it easier to gather and dispose of the branches and twigs you've removed once you've finished pruning. Step 2: Lay down some tarpaulin around the tree extending as far as the diameter of the tree crown. Does your tree crown need some more air? If so, then decide which branches need redirecting.

See where water sprouts have formed or where there are crossing branches. Step 1: Take a good look at your tree as a whole and think about which parts need pruning.

Pruning apple trees download