Some of you have seen my big old apple tree before, and posted a lot of good
advice for which I'm gratefull. Today, I have some specific trimming
questions. Please look at this pic:

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7350.jpg
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7348.jpg

A few years the previous owner of my property butchered this poor tree. I'm
trying to clean up the mess, and I'm not sure how to handle a few of the
branches. I'm thinking I should remove the vertical suckers, but I'm not
sure how to shape what is left. Should I also remove the smaller fork? Both
had their ends cut off, and you can see the mess of small branches trying to
grow out of the stub. Any suggestions?

Here is another branch:

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7344.jpg

It's similar to the first. It forked, had the ends cut off, and now there
are several new small branches trying to grow. I can post more pics if
anyone wants to see them.

Ook wrote:
Some of you have seen my big old apple tree before, and posted a lot of good

A few years the previous owner of my property butchered this poor tree. I'm
trying to clean up the mess, and I'm not sure how to handle a few of the
branches. I'm thinking I should remove the vertical suckers, but I'm not
sure how to shape what is left. Should I also remove the smaller fork? Both
had their ends cut off, and you can see the mess of small branches trying to
grow out of the stub. Any suggestions?


Just cut the weakest 1/3 of the suckers every year, and eventually try
to give it a little shape. Do not touch the big wood.

"simy1" wrote in message
ups.com...

Ook wrote:
Some of you have seen my big old apple tree before, and posted a lot of
good

A few years the previous owner of my property butchered this poor tree.
I'm
trying to clean up the mess, and I'm not sure how to handle a few of the
branches. I'm thinking I should remove the vertical suckers, but I'm not
sure how to shape what is left. Should I also remove the smaller fork?
Both
had their ends cut off, and you can see the mess of small branches trying
to
grow out of the stub. Any suggestions?


Just cut the weakest 1/3 of the suckers every year, and eventually try
to give it a little shape. Do not touch the big wood.


I've heard that before, and it's good advice. What about the new long
horozontal branches? Just let them grow for now? Some of them are 8-10 feet
long, and stick way out. The story I heard was that the previous owner got
tired of the way it sprawled, and hacked off all of the main branches
(ack!). I don't have a problem with sprawl, I don't really care how big it
gets and how far out it sprawls, just so long as the tree is happy and
healthy.

I answered you before on this tree. I'm still not sure why you want to save
it. It is
really a mess, a pruning nightmare. You can try and remove these suckers
gradually,
not more than 1/3 of the tree in a given season, but is there anything left
worth saving? You can try to develop some leaders, but the tree is so misshapen
already,
that I doubt you will succeed. If you are trying to save the apples, I suggest
you cut
of some of the scion wood and graft it onto a new rootstock, then take the old
tree
down.

Sherwin D.

Ook wrote:

Some of you have seen my big old apple tree before, and posted a lot of good
advice for which I'm gratefull. Today, I have some specific trimming
questions. Please look at this pic:

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7350.jpg
http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7348.jpg

A few years the previous owner of my property butchered this poor tree. I'm
trying to clean up the mess, and I'm not sure how to handle a few of the
branches. I'm thinking I should remove the vertical suckers, but I'm not
sure how to shape what is left. Should I also remove the smaller fork? Both
had their ends cut off, and you can see the mess of small branches trying to
grow out of the stub. Any suggestions?

Here is another branch:

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF7344.jpg

It's similar to the first. It forked, had the ends cut off, and now there
are several new small branches trying to grow. I can post more pics if
anyone wants to see them.