Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
Hello again!
My new garden has 4 apple trees which I've finally gotten round to looking at. (I'm assuming they're all apples, when we looked round the house in Feb, one of them still had lots of fruits tenaciously clinging on!) I guess I should snip off all the little weedy shoots that're coming out all over the shop, and clear the thick weeds/grass round the base, right? One's also covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? Currently they have a 3-5 foot trunks, which branch outwards almost horizontally several feet, and then there's a dense mass of 10'+ vertical shoots. This seems to suggest they were heavily pruned some years ago and then neglected, perhaps? Anyway, this doesn't seem like the textbook shape at all but, unfortunately, textbooks only seem to say, 'Do this in year 1, that in year 2 etc.' and not how to deal with someone else's mess So, if someone could give me some tips on how to proceed, then that'd be great. thanks in advance... |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Glen Able" wrote in
: Hello again! My new garden has 4 apple trees which I've finally gotten round to looking at. (I'm assuming they're all apples, when we looked round the house in Feb, one of them still had lots of fruits tenaciously clinging on!) I guess I should snip off all the little weedy shoots that're coming out all over the shop, and clear the thick weeds/grass round the base, right? One's also covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? This is the wrong time of year for pruning apples. If there were fruits on them last year, you may well get some this year too - even if they do need pruning, fruiting can still be pretty good! (believe me - my apple trees were pretty neglected too!) I'd pretty much leave them as they are for this year. Clear away any suckers coming from the base, maybe give them a mulch and clear the base of the trunks. Take the ivy off if it looks like it's going to overwhelm the tree, (or if you don't like it), and chop off anything that's clearly dead or diseased. Chop back anything else that might be shading them - apples don't like to be fighting for light, and just cutting back a shading hedge a bit can make a big difference. Then this winter you can take out the crossing branches, branches that go straight up, and branches that are just in the way to create a more open structure. It's worth bearing in mind that most apple trees have blossom/apples on side branches (spurs), not on the tips*. So you aren't aiming for a long straight branch with a few twigs on the end, but plenty of well- spaced side shoots so each apple has a bit of space and light to grow. You'll probably find that next year you get a whole bunch of new 'water shoots' trying to go straight up again after your pruning, and will need to chop these to encourage the fruit bearin spurs. (*there are a few tip-bearers, though and sod's law says you've got one. If they flowered this year, take a really good look at any young apples on the branches now and try to work out which each tree is. Spur- bearers are more common). this doesn't seem like the textbook shape at all but, unfortunately, textbooks only seem to say, 'Do this in year 1, that in year 2 etc.' and not how to deal with someone else's mess I know what you mean! Mine were just the same. -- gardening on a north-facing hill in South-East Cornwall -- |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Victoria Clare" wrote in message
This is the wrong time of year for pruning apples. If there were fruits on them last year, you may well get some this year too - even if they do need pruning, fruiting can still be pretty good! (believe me - my apple trees were pretty neglected too!) Good - plenty of other stuff to be getting on with right now! e.g. The nice "raised bed" has turned out to actually be a huge mass of old bricks and rubble with an inch of soil cunningly covering it (which explained why even the grass wasn't growing well on it!) I'd pretty much leave them as they are for this year. Clear away any suckers coming from the base, maybe give them a mulch and clear the base of the trunks. Take the ivy off if it looks like it's going to overwhelm the tree, (or if you don't like it), and chop off anything that's clearly dead or diseased. Chop back anything else that might be shading them - apples don't like to be fighting for light, and just cutting back a shading hedge a bit can make a big difference. Righto. Then this winter you can take out the crossing branches, branches that go straight up, and branches that are just in the way to create a more open structure. Unfortunately, literally all the branches go straight up. They've really got that textbook overpruned look and I've got no idea if it's even possible to develop them into a more desirable shape Dunno if anyone's theory-of-pruning knowledge is up to the task? Thanks for all the advice! |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Glen Able" wrote in message ... "Victoria Clare" wrote in message This is the wrong time of year for pruning apples. If there were fruits on them last year, you may well get some this year too - even if they do need pruning, fruiting can still be pretty good! (believe me - my apple trees were pretty neglected too!) Good - plenty of other stuff to be getting on with right now! e.g. The nice "raised bed" has turned out to actually be a huge mass of old bricks and rubble with an inch of soil cunningly covering it (which explained why even the grass wasn't growing well on it!) I'd pretty much leave them as they are for this year. Clear away any suckers coming from the base, maybe give them a mulch and clear the base of the trunks. Take the ivy off if it looks like it's going to overwhelm the tree, (or if you don't like it), and chop off anything that's clearly dead or diseased. Chop back anything else that might be shading them - apples don't like to be fighting for light, and just cutting back a shading hedge a bit can make a big difference. Righto. Then this winter you can take out the crossing branches, branches that go straight up, and branches that are just in the way to create a more open structure. Unfortunately, literally all the branches go straight up. They've really got that textbook overpruned look and I've got no idea if it's even possible to develop them into a more desirable shape Dunno if anyone's theory-of-pruning knowledge is up to the task? Thanks for all the advice! The advice given was good, however winter pruning causes rampant growth. A tree shaped in the summer will produce weak, potentially fruiting, growth and retain its form. If nothing else remove the top third from any new growth made this year in July/Aug. I would do that, this year, even if you find they are tip bearers. Regards Brian. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Victoria Clare" wrote an excellent reply to "Glen Able" who wrote My new garden has 4 apple trees which I've finally gotten round to looking at. (I'm assuming they're all apples, when we looked round the house in Feb, one of them still had lots of fruits tenaciously clinging on!) I guess I should snip off all the little weedy shoots that're coming out all over the shop, and clear the thick weeds/grass round the base, right? One's also covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? This is the wrong time of year for pruning apples. If there were fruits on them last year, you may well get some this year too - even if they do need pruning, fruiting can still be pretty good! (believe me - my apple trees were pretty neglected too!) I'd pretty much leave them as they are for this year. Clear away any suckers coming from the base, maybe give them a mulch and clear the base of the trunks. Take the ivy off if it looks like it's going to overwhelm the tree, (or if you don't like it), and chop off anything that's clearly dead or diseased. Chop back anything else that might be shading them - apples don't like to be fighting for light, and just cutting back a shading hedge a bit can make a big difference. Then this winter you can take out the crossing branches, branches that go straight up, and branches that are just in the way to create a more open structure. If they are that bad, neglected and unpruned for years , overgrown, then next winter I would go back to the basic scaffold branches and start again. A total renovation. Look for the few main side branches coming off the main trunk and prune everything else out to one or two buds off those. Any large branches that go upwards and are beyond your ability to pick fruit should also be pruned out. The summer afterwards will see the tree putting on a lot of new growth and this should be summer pruned as it grows to keep it shortish, this will encourage the production of fruiting buds/spurs for the following season. -- Regards Bob Some photos of my plants at..... |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Glen Able" wrote in message ... Hello again! My new garden has 4 apple trees which I've finally gotten round to looking at. (I'm assuming they're all apples, when we looked round the house in Feb, one of them still had lots of fruits tenaciously clinging on!) I guess I should snip off all the little weedy shoots that're coming out all over the shop, and clear the thick weeds/grass round the base, right? One's also covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? Currently they have a 3-5 foot trunks, which branch outwards almost horizontally several feet, and then there's a dense mass of 10'+ vertical shoots. This seems to suggest they were heavily pruned some years ago and then neglected, perhaps? Anyway, this doesn't seem like the textbook shape at all but, unfortunately, textbooks only seem to say, 'Do this in year 1, that in year 2 etc.' and not how to deal with someone else's mess So, if someone could give me some tips on how to proceed, then that'd be great. thanks in advance... ******************************** Tell us a bit more. And take no offence at anything I say, Pse. The tree has a bole, - that is the vertical trunk which is the name mostly in use. ("Oh! to be in England now that Aprils' there, for, whoever wakes in England sees some morning, unaware ..... That the lime tree bole is in tiny leaf.....") etc. etc. is not quite correct. The bole of a tree is, generally, never in leaf. It is there to carry and feed the branches. From the trunk the branches grow outwards, They grow horizontal, or uppish like the pear/apple, or downish like the cone shape, a good example of which is the fir tree. You write of 3-5 feet trunks. That's a very big old tree, that is. if you mean the diameter of the trunk (bole). If you meant 3-5 feet vertically up the trunk from the ground then that's a very young tree 4-5 years old. In spring ( that is, now) . Speaking of a quite young tree, at this time, (Spring), soft pithy small branches are shooting upwards from the branches already extant. They grow quickly. You "spring prune" them now. You cut them off (generally,) at the second node outwards from the original branch from which they have suddenly appeared, careful though, lots will be growing out from the start of the growth from the branch will have a darker coloured peel then suddenly it immediately looks new and much lighter. If so, count two nodes out from there. It is very obvious, so don't worry. Right! - that's your spring pruning. Fruit should appear on those two nodes next year's summer and autumn, and this method keeps all the fruit nice and compact on the tree and the tree branches don't bolt and get all scraggly. Now for winter pruning. this is designed to tidy up the tree and shape it to your requirements. Cut out all deadwood and branches shooting into and /or across the inside area of the branches. You aim to get plenty of light in there so try for a shape like a wineglass or an ordinary "wild" tree, bit by bit, year by year. Don't worry, its easy, just look at the tree and you will easily see what requires to be done. I did seven young plum tress three days ago and it took me half an hour. Mind you!, plums are well known for following the pattern of new pappy shoot branches quickly growing vertically at this time of the year. Doug. ****************************** |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
"Glen Able" wrote in message
... Hello again! My new garden has 4 apple trees which I've finally gotten round to looking at. (I'm assuming they're all apples, when we looked round the house in Feb, one of them still had lots of fruits tenaciously clinging on!) I guess I should snip off all the little weedy shoots that're coming out all over the shop, and clear the thick weeds/grass round the base, right? One's also covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? Currently they have a 3-5 foot trunks, which branch outwards almost horizontally several feet, and then there's a dense mass of 10'+ vertical shoots. This seems to suggest they were heavily pruned some years ago and then neglected, perhaps? Anyway, this doesn't seem like the textbook shape at all but, unfortunately, textbooks only seem to say, 'Do this in year 1, that in year 2 etc.' and not how to deal with someone else's mess So, if someone could give me some tips on how to proceed, then that'd be great. Sincere thanks to all those who responded with such a valuable wealth of experience. ga |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Tatty apple trees
Glen Able wrote
One's covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? .... very bad - ivy KILLS trees AFAIK... HTH -- Gnomo ....any way the wind blows... |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Gnomo" wrote in message ... Glen Able wrote One's covered in ivy, is that a bad idea? ... very bad - ivy KILLS trees AFAIK... Not at all true, the ivy merely uses the tree for support. Alan |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
No apple blossoms on apple trees this year? | Gardening | |||
Apple trees for apple cider? | Australia | |||
apple trees gone? cherry trees coming? | Lawns | |||
Pruning apple trees (was: question about seeding fruit trees) | Edible Gardening | |||
Tatty fruit bushes | United Kingdom |