What to put on pruned branches

[Lazurus]

Ok I have a fig and 5 mature apple tree that I need to go hard at this year, is there anything I need to put on the pruned wounds to prevent infection, rot etc or just let nature prevail?

 

S.

[Gary Prentice]

12 hours ago, EdwardC said:

Yes. If you must.

 

By and large not pruning is best. Any pruning wounds the tree and creates a number of other problems. If you must prune, no sealer, the correct pruning cuts, and pruning at the right time of year, are the best way forward.

At the AA conference (might of been at Keele, 2015 anyway) one of the American Speakers demonstrated the need for pruning at the time of planting. 

 

Standing in in the university grounds he pointed out all the structural problems in the surrounding trees and then proceeded, with secateurs) to cut away a large proportion of the sapling waiting to be planted.

 

His point was that no one would be likely to return to create a good scaffold structure in later years so make it right to start with.

 

Looking at a lot of nursery stock there's unfortunately still a need for pruning (that should have been done in the nurseries), but good species/plant selection, the right tree in the right spot and while the tree is very young is better.

 

As tree surgeons we're using acting thirty years too late, using chainsaws when the operation should have been carried out with secateurs 

[nepia]

22 hours ago, Lazurus said:

Ok I have a fig and 5 mature apple tree that I need to go hard at this year, is there anything I need to put on the pruned wounds to prevent infection, rot etc or just let nature prevail?

 

S.

Fig pruning in spring I think from memory.

 

You say you need to go at them hard:  are you ready for the reactive growth and ongoing management of it?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=279    Scroll down to 'Problems'.

 

I'm not saying don't prune hard - apples are remarkably resilient - but be prepared for ongoing management of what may be almost explosive regrowth.

[Lazurus]

Thanks for all the advice, I think this will be an ongoing issue to get the trees back to a manageable size and structure, thankfully they are not of commercial value I don't think I would want that responsibility if it goes "pear" shaped on the apple trees !

[Marula]

Thanks for all the advice, I think this will be an ongoing issue to get the trees back to a manageable size and structure, thankfully they are not of commercial value I don't think I would want that responsibility if it goes "pear" shaped on the apple trees !

Can you post a photo so we can see the trees, their size etc just for interest sake.