bnd777 wrote in message ...

"Gary Harrison" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
Never been here before but having a scan round there looks to be some
knowedgable folk on here, so hopefully someone can help.

I have just bought a house (Next door) that has several (about 15)
mature fruit trees, Plum, Apple, Cherry, Pear.

I know that these trees have not been looked at for over 15 years and
the whole plot of land has been left to nature.

The trees have all got loads of fruit on, and we have managed to get
about 6 carrier bags off the ones we can get to.

The problem is that the trees have been left to there own devices, and
the best fruit is above the canopy which is about 30 foot up!

I want to manage these trees but i don't know where to start, at the
moment they are far too high, but i can't go in and cut them to hight as
i might loose the tree's

I need expert help, I live in Sheffield and am concered that a normal
tree surgen might not have the knowedge to work on these fruit trees.

Can anyone offer suggestions.



I doubt you will kill the trees and they sound in good health if they are
fruiting

Although Plum trees can be susceptible to Silver Leaf

Wait till October and then reduce the canopys down to a more reasonable
height and prune out any overlapping or crossing branches to give an open
framework
Then next year you can do more drastic pruning

No, no, no.


There are several good books on pruning fruit trees you should be able to
get one from your library


Gary's got an ongoing pruning problem, so I suggest that
borrowing a book for two weeks is not going to solve it.
'Fruit' by Harry Baker for the RHS would be a good buy.


--
Anton