On Mar 7, 3:11*pm, cheapo wrote:
Thanks for your replies.
Hmm, they may not actually be 25ft high, but definitely 20 and slender
trunks.
I really do want to totally reduce the height of the trees rather than
just prune them. I think I will try to go for the 5/6 foot level, if I
can find a bud point (I just looked that up) and train the new growth
out sideways.
And I may even get rid of two or three completely as the summer growth
of the 5 trees overhangs both of my neighbours on both sides and those
at the back too. Though they all had lots of fruit, as did a friend
across the road.
I'll cut the trunks off at an angle, so that rain runs off, and coat
the cuts with this special sealer from the garden centre.
Do you reckon I could splice healthy growth into the trunk? Just a
thought *really. Is there a season for that too? I just read "Prune in
June" somewhere. And yes, I had heard about the silverleaf thingy from
someone last year when I mentioned cutting them back.

--
cheapo

Didn't think of grafting but that is a good option. Here is some info
you may not have found as yet:

http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/.../grafting.html

do watch cutting branches back properly to get a good wound seal. It
is more than just a quick cut and some wax.