Charlie Pridham wrote:
It is up to the reader to determine the rightness or otherwise of answers
and information given. It is pointless for posters to squabble over it.
As pruning apples is a very flexible art it serves no purpose other than to
confuse, to keep referring to an answer without showing the question.
You can prune an overgrown apple tree at any time of year if it needs it,
depends completely on why you are pruning it in the first place. On the
other hand if you have a restricted form of apple then most people would
like me prune them in August. while older more established standards etc
would normally be pruned in winter between leaf drop and bud burst which is
a 4 month window.
If you don't agree then do as I do and ignore the post!

Winter was in this case the right answer for the OP, not autumn. As for
the Damson, as I don't have one I didn't commented, but my instincts
don't say to 'prune' as such but 'tidy' in the spring. But sure, you
are right off course and I will certainly try to learn to ignore the
posts.