Pruning advice please

[Julietuesday]

My Apple tree has produced a good batch of apples this year, but has been disappointing with its blossom.  Any advice?   Could someone mark on where to prune it.   It’s never been pruned and rather ugly as it is

 

many thanks  

[tree-fancier123]

buy a secondhand book on pruning e.g ebay

[nepia]

I second that; that RHS book is comprehensive yet easy to understand with loads of pics and diagrams

[sime42]

Thirded. I have that book too. 

[Steven P]

As above that book is rated I don't have it but it is worth a read.

 

I assume you want to prune the tree to be a more appealing shape... though my ugly apple tree gives a good crop, the apples will taste the same whichever way.

 

- Use sharp clean tools for the job, secateurs will be OK I reckon... sharp ones.

- I tend to think about any cuts so that any water will run off (i.e. not horizontal)

- The most you can really cut off a fruit tree any year is about 30%... about 1/3 though the next year it will grow a lot of new shoots to compensate. 10% to 20% off is better to prune for its shape

- First cuts - look for any dead branches and remove them

- Then remove any branches that cross each other touching (only need to do one of them) bearing in mind the shape you want for what you remove

- Then look at the tree, you want a reasonably open structure inside it - airflow and light. Any branches that cross from one side to the other consider if you want to keep them

- However you should be able to order the book from a library to read (for the youth... Library, a kind of store full of books you can borrow... Book... like a PDF but IRL...). Books are better - you can take them out to the tree with you and refer to it as you go