Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

I recently moved into a new house with what I believe is an apple tree. It
looks like the two major trunks were cut back at 7 foot a few years ago, but
since then a number of major branches have started from there and shot
straight up an additional 10 or more feet. I am reluctant to cut them off
because they are now a big part of the tree, but I certainly will not be
climbing that high to get the fruit!

I also don't want to get too radical in case I misidentified the tree...

Brian

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

Hi Brian,
I would not invest a lot of time until you get some fruit off this
tree.
It's possibly an apple which you won't like. If height is a problem for
you, best to pull out what sounds like a full size tree, and replace it
with a dwarf, or at least a semi-dwarf tree. What you now have is a
tree with a large root structure that is trying to balance itself by
putting out abundant above ground growth.

Sherwin D.

Brian wrote:

I recently moved into a new house with what I believe is an apple tree. It
looks like the two major trunks were cut back at 7 foot a few years ago, but
since then a number of major branches have started from there and shot
straight up an additional 10 or more feet. I am reluctant to cut them off
because they are now a big part of the tree, but I certainly will not be
climbing that high to get the fruit!

I also don't want to get too radical in case I misidentified the tree...

Brian

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

I've been told that you aren't supposed to remove more than 1/3 of the tree
per year during pruning. Take some of the uprights, dead wood, and the ones
growing down. In addition, branches that if left alone, will rub on another
branch that you want to keep, remove or cut back.

Dwayne

"Brian" wrote in message
om...
(simy1) wrote in message
. com...

While I mostly agree with Sherwin, in case you end up liking the
apples from the tree, there are tools to harvest tall trees. Basically
a very long pole with a mechanical hand at the top. Also, if they shot
straight up, this thing could be a pear tree.

Well, I don't like pears, anyways...

I might just cut the branches going straight up and hope that the
lateral branches strengthen rather than new straight up branches
sprouting. I guess I will not do much beyond that yet...

Brian

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

The kinds of growth that shoot straight up from a branch below are
commonly called waterspouts.
They result when a tree is trying to put out growth very quickly. This
can occur if one overdoes
the spring pruning, or in the case in question, a major cut down
occurred. A tree like this with
a very large root structure cannot easily be shortened by pruning. It
is trying it's hardest to
balance the top growth, as I mentioned before. I think Brian has the
right idea to prune off
the waterspouts, and try and develop the outgrowing branches. By the
way, waterspouts are not
peculiar to pear trees, you get them on apple and stone fruit trees, as
well.

Sherwin D.

simy1 wrote:

(Brian) wrote in message . com...
I recently moved into a new house with what I believe is an apple tree. It
looks like the two major trunks were cut back at 7 foot a few years ago, but
since then a number of major branches have started from there and shot
straight up an additional 10 or more feet. I am reluctant to cut them off
because they are now a big part of the tree, but I certainly will not be
climbing that high to get the fruit!

I also don't want to get too radical in case I misidentified the tree...

Brian


While I mostly agree with Sherwin, in case you end up liking the
apples from the tree, there are tools to harvest tall trees. Basically
a very long pole with a mechanical hand at the top. Also, if they shot
straight up, this thing could be a pear tree.

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

"Brian" wrote in message
om...
(simy1) wrote in message
. com...

While I mostly agree with Sherwin, in case you end up liking the
apples from the tree, there are tools to harvest tall trees. Basically
a very long pole with a mechanical hand at the top. Also, if they shot
straight up, this thing could be a pear tree.

Well, I don't like pears, anyways...

I might just cut the branches going straight up and hope that the
lateral branches strengthen rather than new straight up branches
sprouting. I guess I will not do much beyond that yet...

Brian


Here is a link to an excellent step by step method to restore old apple
trees.
Good luck
Dan

http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/ed...05/ec1005.html

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

"Brian" wrote in message
om...
I recently moved into a new house with what I believe is an apple
tree. It
looks like the two major trunks were cut back at 7 foot a few years
ago, but
since then a number of major branches have started from there and shot
straight up an additional 10 or more feet. I am reluctant to cut them
off
because they are now a big part of the tree, but I certainly will not
be
climbing that high to get the fruit!

I also don't want to get too radical in case I misidentified the
tree...

Brian


I asked a similar question in an email list. I got a reply from someone
who resurrected some old neglected trees over a span of three years.

Essentially, you start by knocking off all the branches that go straight
up or straight down. Also, keep the new growth that goes straight up
pruned off.

Send email to ray drou at quixnet dot net and I'll see if I can get
permission to forward it to you.


Ray Drouillard

Pruning a neglected apple tree
 

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 06:52:31 +0000, Sherwin Dubren wrote:

Hi Brian,
I would not invest a lot of time until you get some fruit off this
tree.
It's possibly an apple which you won't like. If height is a problem for
you, best to pull out what sounds like a full size tree, and replace it
with a dwarf, or at least a semi-dwarf tree. What you now have is a tree
with a large root structure that is trying to balance itself by putting
out abundant above ground growth.

Sherwin D.

Which means he might want to consider root pruning. http://www.rsnz.govt.nz/publish/nzjchs/1998/36.php
Google for more.

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