When and how does one prune Bramleys.

Last year I did it all wrong and finished up with no fruit whatsoever,
I was mightily annoyed I can tell you.

I don't want the same thing to happen in the future.

Alan
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Reply to alan(at)windsor-berks(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk

Alan Holmes wrote:

: When and how does one prune Bramleys.

: Last year I did it all wrong and finished up with no fruit whatsoever,
: I was mightily annoyed I can tell you.

: I don't want the same thing to happen in the future.

It depends. What shape is the bush/tree? Has it plenty of room?

If you look at the tree now, you will see 2 different types of bud. Some
larger, often on short stalks along a branch (called fruiting spurs) these
are the flower buds. DON'T cut these off - well not all of them :-) Others
buds are more slender, often along and at the apex of branches,
these are growing buds which can burst into growth of new side shoots, or
continue the growth of the branch.

If you tree looks fine and has room, don't feel you have to prune.

If there are lots of thin long branches or branches growing inwards, not
outwards, then cut a lot of these out. The centre of the tree should not
have a lot of branches growing in. It should be light and allow air to
flow. If the tree was heavily pruined and has sprouted loads of thin
spindly branches fromt he but ends, then cut out most of these leaving
only a few branches evenly spread outwards from the centre of the tree.
Then cut these back to an outward facing bud about half way down
this years growth.

Next summer round about august, you can cut any long growing side shoots
back by half, and in the following winter cut them back again to a few
buds from the base - this encourages the development of fruiting buds.

Hope that helps.