![]() ![]() It is also helpful to have a ladder if you need to reach higher branches. A pair of pruning shears or a small saw is recommended for cutting branches. It is important to use the proper tools when pruning apple trees. Pruning can also improve the tree’s overall health and increase the size and quality of the fruit. It helps to shape the tree, remove diseased or damaged branches, and encourage the growth of new, healthy fruit-bearing branches. In mature trees, if you need to use a heading cut to shorten a long and thin branch, make the cut in old wood as this causes less new growth.Pruning apple trees is an important part of maintaining a healthy and productive tree. Heading cuts should be avoided once the initial shaping of the tree has been completed as it can cause the tree to become overcrowded. It will stimulate growth and encourage branches to grow in the direction you want. It will cause a new shoot to grow from the direction the bud is facing in the coming year. Make the cut just above an outward-facing bud. But where you make the cut is really important. Unlike the previous steps, these cuts will be made part way along each branch. But it depends on the vigour of the tree. This could be a few centimetres to over a metre back from the tip of the stem. You can tell which growth is last year’s growth – look for the wrinkly ring of bark encircling each stem. It generally involves cutting away 20-30% of last year’s growth. Heading cuts are necessary when pruning young trees, but you’ll make fewer heading cuts as trees mature. ![]() It stops branches from getting long and gangly and at risk of snapping. Heading back means pruning the outside branches of the tree to shorten and thicken them, especially in young trees.
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