An apple in the garden has a mass of flowers. It's also got a lot of
shoots pointing straight up, about 18" long. These have flowers on.
Can I trim them now, or should I wait?

"Chris Bacon" wrote in message
...
An apple in the garden has a mass of flowers. It's also got a lot of
shoots pointing straight up, about 18" long. These have flowers on.
Can I trim them now, or should I wait?
_____________________________________
Depending on the size and age of the trees the vertical growths should have
been pruned last summer by about a third.
Do not prune now. The flowers will be your fruit. This summer new growths
can be pruned by 1/3rd to promote the formation of flowering spurs for next
year.
Summer pruning promotes fruiting whereas winter pruning is for growth.
There is a possibility that your tree is a 'tip bearer' and pruning
should leave new growths thinned but not pruned. More winter pruning
probably.
Best Wishes Brian.

On Fri, 06 May 2005 12:06:22 +0100, Chris Bacon
wrote:

An apple in the garden has a mass of flowers. It's also got a lot of
shoots pointing straight up, about 18" long. These have flowers on.
Can I trim them now, or should I wait?

Those shoots are water sprouts. They can be pruned flush with the
branches. Don't leave stubs. Prune out crossed and rubbing branches.

Derryl

Calgary, Alberta Canada

I would wait until the trees are dormant. Make all cuts at an angle so
water will run off easily rather than set on the wound.

Dwayne

"Chris Bacon" wrote in message
...
An apple in the garden has a mass of flowers. It's also got a lot of
shoots pointing straight up, about 18" long. These have flowers on.
Can I trim them now, or should I wait?

Dwayne wrote:
: I would wait until the trees are dormant. Make all cuts at an angle so
: water will run off easily rather than set on the wound.

I wouldn't. If there are a lot of these then air circulation is going to
be bad and you going to get problems.

As someone else said, thin out by taking unwanted stems right back to the
branch leaving not stub.

It is early in the season, so I do only what is essential to get decent
air circulation. Revisit and prune some more in a month.

Jim

: Dwayne

: "Chris Bacon" wrote in message
: ...
: An apple in the garden has a mass of flowers. It's also got a lot of
: shoots pointing straight up, about 18" long. These have flowers on.
: Can I trim them now, or should I wait?