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#1
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Apple Tree Problem
In my new garden, there is an elderly apple tree that has
obviously been pruned severely at times in the past. It is still growing and produced a reasonable crop of apples this year (although not that tasty!). However there is a lot of dead wood on the tree at the tips of shoots, although further down the shoots it is growing quite well. There are a couple of pictures he http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4453364959 I'm noy sure wthether to pune out the dead shoots completely or jsut cut them back to just above a growing bit. Help! -- Roger T 700 ft up in Mid-Wales |
#2
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Apple Tree Problem
"Roger Tonkin" wrote
In my new garden, there is an elderly apple tree that has obviously been pruned severely at times in the past. It is still growing and produced a reasonable crop of apples this year (although not that tasty!). However there is a lot of dead wood on the tree at the tips of shoots, although further down the shoots it is growing quite well. There are a couple of pictures he http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4453364959 I'm noy sure wthether to pune out the dead shoots completely or jsut cut them back to just above a growing bit. Help! Photos won't load for me?? -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
#3
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Apple Tree Problem
On 11/10/2016 17:54, BobHobden wrote:
"Roger Tonkin" wrote In my new garden, there is an elderly apple tree that has obviously been pruned severely at times in the past. It is still growing and produced a reasonable crop of apples this year (although not that tasty!). However there is a lot of dead wood on the tree at the tips of shoots, although further down the shoots it is growing quite well. There are a couple of pictures he http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4453364959 I'm noy sure wthether to pune out the dead shoots completely or jsut cut them back to just above a growing bit. Help! Photos won't load for me?? Nor me. -- Spider On high ground in SE London Gardening on heavy clay |
#4
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Apple Tree Problem
On Mon, 10 Oct 2016 20:27:33 +0100, Roger Tonkin wrote:
In my new garden, there is an elderly apple tree that has obviously been pruned severely at times in the past. It is still growing and produced a reasonable crop of apples this year (although not that tasty!). However there is a lot of dead wood on the tree at the tips of shoots, although further down the shoots it is growing quite well. There are a couple of pictures he http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4453364959 I'm noy sure wthether to pune out the dead shoots completely or jsut cut them back to just above a growing bit. Help! Note: I can see the thumbnails but the full picture won't load. My suggestion would be to cut out all the dead wood now whilst you can see which it is. After leaf fall you may not be able to tell. Cut it back so you are into the growing bit; that is, take a bit of live wood as well as all the dead wood. Over winter you can then do any structural work to thin it out and open it up as required. Look at the cut ends to see if the living wood is infected; brown bits amongst the light coloured wood. If so, cut back to clean wood (remembering to disinfect your secateurs regularly if you are cutting into infected wood). The alternative would be to wait for winter and cut all the shoots back by about a third (assuming that this would cut out all the dead tips). There is only a limited amount that you can do with old apple trees. Cheers Dave R -- Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box |
#5
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Apple Tree Problem
On 11/10/2016 21:57, David wrote:
On Mon, 10 Oct 2016 20:27:33 +0100, Roger Tonkin wrote: In my new garden, there is an elderly apple tree that has obviously been pruned severely at times in the past. It is still growing and produced a reasonable crop of apples this year (although not that tasty!). However there is a lot of dead wood on the tree at the tips of shoots, although further down the shoots it is growing quite well. There are a couple of pictures he http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4453364959 I'm noy sure wthether to pune out the dead shoots completely or jsut cut them back to just above a growing bit. Help! Note: I can see the thumbnails but the full picture won't load. +1 My suggestion would be to cut out all the dead wood now whilst you can see which it is. After leaf fall you may not be able to tell. Usually you can tell since dead wood is thinner and dry. But a novice might well find it easier to tell while they are still in leaf. Cut it back so you are into the growing bit; that is, take a bit of live wood as well as all the dead wood. Over winter you can then do any structural work to thin it out and open it up as required. Look at the cut ends to see if the living wood is infected; brown bits amongst the light coloured wood. If so, cut back to clean wood (remembering to disinfect your secateurs regularly if you are cutting into infected wood). Meths in a beaker is a reasonable disinfectant. The alternative would be to wait for winter and cut all the shoots back by about a third (assuming that this would cut out all the dead tips). There is only a limited amount that you can do with old apple trees. Though you can rejuvenate them by cutting out all dead wood and any crossing branches as a first approximation. Perhaps spread over a couple of years if you are nervous about taking too much off at once. Any decent book on pruning fruit trees will explain when and how to prune and the difference between spur and tip bearers. If you prune the latter by chopping off all the ends you get almost no fruit! -- Regards, Martin Brown |
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