how do you prune an old apple tree to improve the fruit for next year (its not been looked after)?

Question

Apple tree looks like it has been left alone for many years

Answer 1

you cannot do it all in one step or you will stress the tree and make it worse.
remove any old and damaged branches
remove any that are crossing or heading towards centre(try and keep centre open)
summer pruning prevents growth while winter encourages new growth in spring.
it will take a few seasons to get back to full fruit. might be worth hiring a pro to knock the tree back into shape then just keep on top of it

Answer 2

HI pinky, its February its not sub zero and you have a razor sharp saw, loppers and secateurs.
Well try and imagine an apple tree no more than 8ft tall and no branches below 5 ft yes got that , when you prune big branches that are above that its best to take them down to where they branch from, rather than dead on 8ft you will see little creases in the bark at joints between branches, cut them just above that. any branches that look like they are a year old [ usually no side branches on them] prune them back to about 2 inc
so you have a disc don’t worry about the width, the wider the better, if there are any long branches which are a little low you might want to prop them up with some nice strait branches you cut off.
next in the middle of the tree creating opening, about 3 ft across, remove all branches except any that look like they could fill a gap further out in the canopy, clean the main trunk of every small branch, make sure you cut them tight back .
Now have a close look at what you have left take out all the dead, crossing damaged or diseased and any weak looking stuff , what you want are evenly spaced branches, you will notice different types of growth, long strait healthy and small stubby growths, [they are like miniature trees coming off bigger branches], the latter are the ones that are going to flower and produce fruit , there are a few varieties that do things a little different, but I ant got all day!
Let’s start with the strong strait braches, don't listen to any one who tells you to prune them ALL back to a couple of buds, that’s tosh. first just tip any which are furthest out, just to help with shape, then in the canopy I like to prune about half back to 2 inc usually the once with the least space around them, the rest again if they are in free space leave them.
finally I think we need to tidy the spurs up, be warned it can take time, but you will have better quality fruit when done, I like to leave 3-5 little buds on each little spur tree. always take out the weakest looking first, then the ones that have grown out furthest, now you need to take out any little spur trees that are growing to close to one another.
Looking good hey!
Your tree is a little stressed now, so you could remove any grass that’s growing around it and, in late march give a little blood fish and bone.

Answer 3

Prune in winter, but that in of itself will cut down on your fruit production for the upcoming year. Still, it has to be done. This is going to be a 2-3 year project for you. Also make sure the grass around the tree is kept trimmed and any other small saplings around the area are removed.

Answer 4

An apple tree best produces fruit on branches that are at a 45 degree angle from the trunk. So prune or remove other branches that are nowhere close to this angle. It helps the tree focus its energy on fruit production. From my understanding, the best time to do this is late winter.

Answer 5

You got a ton of pruning advise, so after you done the cut down, how about another apple tree for cross-pollination. Yes, all fruit trees need a mate to help them cross-pollinate! Nature's Sex.

Answer 6

The best thing would be to get a book on the subject or to talk to an expert at your garden center. But, to get started remove all of the dead wood and suckers. The sucker are the limbs that are growing at the base of the tree and are growing straight up.

Now, go get that book and talk to the people at the garden center.

Answer 7

Don't be scared to prune it right back to a nicely shaped stump.

Seriously, the tree will benefit from being reduced as it can then devote its enegies to growing again.

Answer 8

well simple really all you have to do is leave till febuary. then cut it back to srong healthy growth also open the centre of the tree allow lite to the new fruit

Answer 9

Fertilize

Answer 10

USE A SAW TO CUT DEAD WOOD AND OLD BRANCHES BACK TOO ABOUT TWO FEET IF ITS A LARGE TREE.NEXT YEAR WILL BE A POOR HARVEST BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR - WAW LOADS OF FRUIT.MINE WAS JUST GROWING UP AND UP INSTEAD OF OUTWARDS.