Many people give up on taking care of their old apple tree. But old apple trees can also bear fruits if you prune them.
The previous year I wanted to cut down the old apple tree in my backyard. But then my neighbor told me to prune my old apple tree as there were no apples on the tree. The result of pruning an old apple tree is unbelievable! I noticed the apples were growing again on my old apple tree.
Prune the old apple tree in your backyard to get a bountiful harvest. But if you don’t know how to prune the old apple tree, then don’t worry. I am here to guide you on the way to pruning the old apple tree! So, let’s dig in deeper!
Table of Contents
Seven easy steps to prune the old apple tree!
Everything works properly as well as becomes easier when you follow the steps accordingly. So, if you follow the steps of pruning, the hard work will pay off.
Here I am mentioning the process of pruning the old tree step by step. Let’s check them fast!
Step 01: Examine the tree’s condition thoroughly!
The tree you are planning to prune should be healthy even though it is old. Pruning a healthy tree can promote growth and fruit production. But pruning can’t help a fragile, lifeless, and unhealthy tree.
Notice the following things, and you will know whether you should prune the tree or not:
- If half of the tree’s branches are grayish and crinkled, the tree is not worthy of pruning.
- If the barks are damaged or peeling off the tree, they won’t survive. That fruit tree might not receive nutrients through the trunk.
- Also, if there is no sign of new growth at the end of the limbs, pruning will not give benefit.
Step 02: Know when to prune the tree!
Prune the tree in early spring, or in late winter when the danger of frost has passed. This is the best time since the tree will come out of dormancy and head towards new growth during these seasons.
If you prune the tree before the end of the winter, the cold may damage the tree.
Step 03: Prepare your cutting tools!
Don’t prune the tree using bare hands as you can hurt yourself along with the tree. So, it’s better to use gloves, loppers, a pruning saw with fine teeth and secateurs for pruning.
Besides that, you can also use a small chainsaw for cutting the thick limbs. If the tree is too tall to reach the uppermost branch, you can use a ladder for cutting those uppermost branches.
Step 04: Use sharp cutting tools!
The tools you are going to use for pruning should be clean and sharp. So if required, you should clean and sharpen them. You cannot use dull and dirty tools as they can cause rough wounds and infections.
You can clean the tools with a 9:1 ratio mixture of water and bleach and some steel wool. Besides that, you can sharpen the tools from a local blacksmith or hardware shop.
Step 05: Take the preparation for cutting!
Once you have done your tools, you can prepare the other things required for cutting. At first, place the ladder against the tree and check whether the tree can take the weight or not.
The tree may look strong and firm but it may not. So, when you will start climbing the ladder, the tree may break.
You can stand on the first bar of the ladder or lean your weight against the ladder. If you hear a cracking sound, then the tree is not ready to take your weight.
However, if your tree is not too high to reach, there is no need to use a ladder.
Step 06: Make a plan before cutting!
Don’t go for cutting without a plan. If you start cutting without any pre-plan, you can cut a healthy branch, leaving the dead or diseased branches. In the planning, there should be a central branch and some lateral branches out of the trunk.
Also, the lower part of the tree should have larger limbs than the upper part of the tree. Here I am mentioning those parts of the tree that you need to remove.
Dead, damaged, and diseased branches
Remove the diseased, damaged, and dead branches. There won’t be any fruit buds, flowers, or leaves on the dead branches, and the damaged limbs may have injuries. Therefore these limbs can be the cause of pest or disease attacks.
Besides that, the diseased limbs don’t belong to the fruit tree. So, you should remove them as soon as possible to stop the spreading of the problems.
Scaffold branches
Remove the scaffold branch for good air circulation since it is essential for preventing pests and diseases. Scaffold branches are the large branches that come out of the trunk.
So, by cutting some of them for good air circulation into the canopy.
You can cut 2 to 3 larger limbs as they will compete for nutrients with the central limb. You don’t need to cut the third limb if the tree looks healthy after cutting two branches.
But don’t cut the branches at a large number in a particular season. Otherwise, the tree will go into shock.
Sail branches
Sometimes new trees can grow on the scaffold or side branches of an old apple tree. They are known as sail branches. These sail branches can harm the tree by putting on extra pressure on the tree.
So, you need to remove these branches to maintain the stability of the old tree.
Water shoots
Water shoots are those leafy limbs that grow upwards out of the scaffold branches. In the initial years of planting, they may help the tree with energy collection.
But when the trees grow old, the water sprouts drain energy from the tree. So, it is better to remove them.
Step 07: Cut according to the plan!
Once you have done the planning, start cutting according to your planning. Cut the problematic branches closely from the joint with the trunk. Secure the limbs with your hand while cutting so that it can’t peel off the bark while dropping.
Furthermore, cut the thick branches from both tops and down in two sessions for cutting promptly. Also, cut the limbs at 90 degrees angle to the ground. Horizontal cuts can rot by collecting water.
Overall, remove all the unnecessary heavy branches that can stress your tree.
Pruning aftercare for your old apple tree!
- Use a 6-24-24 fertilizer or a particular type of fertilizer that is for the old trees. Apply the fertilizer based on your tree size, as well as follow the label of the packaging. Besides this, you can use some organic fertilizers that contain blood meal, composted manure, cottonseed meal, feather meal, or soybean meal.
- Use the fertilizer 12 inches or 30 cm away from the trunk.
- After applying fertilizer, scratch the fertilizer towards the drip line. Usually, the drip line lays down in the soil according to the edges of the branches. So when it rains, the water will penetrate the fertilizer inside the soil surface.
- Cover the fertilizer with 1 inch of compost
- Water the composting area about 10 inches deep. You can dig in a 10-inch hole to measure the watering amount.
- You can also add a layer of mulch on top of the compost to retain the moisture.
Final thoughts on pruning the old apple tree!
Pruning can help your old apple tree to produce the fruits again! If the plant is not like dead wood, you can prune the plant to produce fruit. Don’t give up on your old apple tree.
Follow the steps and maintain the aftercare activities. I hope you will get a bountiful crop from the neglected trees of your garden.
I wish you all the best!