Pruning fruit trees

[djbobbins]

As a long-time member on here and having recently moved house to a place with three established apple trees in the garden, I’m wondering what time of year is best to prune them back?

 

The trees have a good crown at about 12’ high which is where I want to keep the height to. I want to trim the spindly newer growth above that (which I realise will be a job I need to do every couple of years, most likely).

 

So best to do the pruning after picking the fruit in autumn, during winter when sap won’t be rising, or next spring?

 

Thoughts much appreciated!

[Peasgood]

When there are no leaves on the tree.

And don't shorten the "spindly newer growth" remove it completely. Not all of them.

Apples fruit best on 2-3 year old branches, the idea is to continuously replace them so you always have young branches. Biggest mistake I see is people reducing their length which just causes them to throw more spindly growth from the cut.

 

Main objective is to make them look right so just cut out all the bits that don't look like an apple tree.

[djbobbins]

Cheers!